I'm quite late to following this trial, but this is the stuff of nightmares. I have random thoughts about this case and the murderers, in no particular order:
1. These guys wanted to emulate Charles Manson (and they admired him). Except, Manson got others to kill for him, AND, Manson was particularly fond of children and children were to be revered and protected. As evil and demented as Manson is, I recall reading how he passed over any house in which he saw pictures of kids when he was looking for his next victims--he felt children were innocent and pure (although apparently a pregnant woman was fair game for murder). And Manson was trying to ignite a (racial) war and his killings were supposed to point the finger of suspicion on blacks, who would rise up and rebel against white society.
2. It's clear to me that Spader and Gribble were budding serial killers. Thankfully they were too stupid and got caught right away. But I have no doubt that either or both would have continued murdering people, either separately or together, until they did get caught. Perhaps it's a miracle 'only' one person died at their hands, but they clearly intended to keep going.
3. I can't imagine what Spader's adoptive parents must think, but it's something more than simple emotional problems affecting their mutant son. He embodies evil; he oozes it through every pore. He is among the worst of the worst. I think he was getting a rush during the trial, hearing the evidence. He'll relive this massacre over and over and over again. He is beyond arrogant. I don't know how the parents can support him. What is there to support? He's a shell filled with evil poison, masquerading as a human. They're crying tears for themselves and for their son...what about for the victims of their son's crimes?
4. People love to compare Spader and the others to 'animals.' Please. Let's not denigrate animals by comparing these losers to them. Animals don't do thrill kills. Animals don't attempt to destroy families. Animals only kill for 2 purposes: for food and in case of threat/for protection. Animals have greater compassion than these four. These mutants could only hope to rise to the level of animals, who, IMHO, are far superior in intellect, compassion, and usefulness to the world.
5. Gribble's comment that he wishes he could kill little Jaime to 'spare her the aftermath of the killings...' I can't even wrap my head around his 'logic.' Is this supposed to be a compassionate thing? Instead, I read it as 'he was sorry he didn't succeed in killing the child.' Because he wanted to kill and he failed.
6. I wish prosecutors and the judge would emphasize to Spader and Gribble that they will fade from memory...that no one in prison will care about their crimes or think they're badass or cool. That they're just punks that the world will forget. They'll only be known as stupid, incompetent, useless. Because right now they are thrilled with their press. They feel important. They feel like badasses. They are reveling in their infamy.
7. People like to think that these guys will be attacked in prison--that there is some 'code' against killers of women and children. And that's just not really true anymore, if it ever was true. People were saying Scott Peterson would be a marked man when he got to San Quentin, for killing his wife and near-term baby. But he's got buddies on death row and has integrated well in the system, much to many people's disappointment. Prisoners go after someone when they have something to gain for doing so, or if they have a personal beef or run-in, or they're trying to earn 'cred' with the other inmates. But as revenge for the crime itself? Nope, not so much. That's a fantasy held by many.
Well, I think that pretty much captures my thoughts about this murderer. I loved the judge's comments to him when she was sentencing him. It was soooo gooood.
