Speechless in The Estates
December 10th, 2010
I sat home last night just wondering how can this young man
Alex Crain murder his own parents? Let alone at such a young age. The
poor family and the two older sons having to go through the horror when
these times are to be so joyful? I am speechless.
This morning I had to get my youngest to PreK at Palmetto Ridge High School for some in-school TV filming with his class. Getting there took me what seemed forever. Cars were backed up, news crews walked the sidewalks of Oil Well Road filming what they could and who they could. Inside the same, news crews were trying to get what they could on Alex Crain.
All morning as I ran errands, Alex and his family were constantly on my mind. What can I do? What can The Estates Community do? I really do not know what to do and yet I can't get rid of this feeling that I need to do something.
But what I will do now is write in my own words as a mother of a soon to be 14 year old. And the first thing that comes to my head is why? How could Alex manage at such a young age to pull the trigger? What in God's name would give him such pain as to go through with it? There has to be something much larger that we may or may never know.
As I am new to this whole teenage thing, I will admit, they do tend to be more moody, frustrated, constantly wanting to fit in, look right, talk right, and carry themselves like they know everything. It can be very trying on any parent. The way I try is constant communication. Though it may drive my teenage nuts at times as he thinks I'm so nosy, that's okay by me, I would rather be in his life than to be out.
The word juvenile and adult keep coming up in my head too. How could they consider to try him as an adult? He is only 14! I don't' care what he did, he does not have the mentality as an adult and I as a mother know it. The depths of Alex's emotions may have blinded his perception of reality. A possibility.
I do not know his past records or even if he had one, but come on, this age group has a hard time grasping the complexity of certain life situations. Mix that with trying to fit in, friends, peer pressure, hormones, and you may have a bubble ready to burst.
I am sure his parents are looking down with forgiveness and hoping their son will not be prosecuted as an adult. I would feel the same.
Thankfully it was good to hear on the news this morning that Alex's family is standing by him. But now we have to wait until December 30th arraignment for the state to decide whether he is is tried as and adult or juvenile. They plan to hold him until then, but the family wants him home. But I agree, they should hold him. I feel he needs help.
Another thing I learned is if they do try him as a juvenile, the maximum sentence is holding him until he turns 21, then released. If tried as an adult, it could be much longer.
Now what can we do in The Estates to help? I am willing and able to do something, but what? Can we do something for the oldest two boys? I hear one is coming home for the holidays and I read in the paper maybe another son lives here? A community potluck remembrance at the fairgrounds? Just a thought, though I would have no idea where to start with that one.
There is not much more to say other than to hope and pray this family gets through this. I will take it upon myself and place photos of his parents,Thomas and Kelly, on my Heaven Cent memorial page.
That's the least I can do. I even thought of a big ribbon to be placed as you enter The Estates . White ribbon would mean forgiveness, black could be mourning?
Any thoughts would be grateful, I plan on sending our feedback on the whole juvenile or adult sentencing to the right persons through the state judicial system. Every little bit helps.
-Blessings
This morning I had to get my youngest to PreK at Palmetto Ridge High School for some in-school TV filming with his class. Getting there took me what seemed forever. Cars were backed up, news crews walked the sidewalks of Oil Well Road filming what they could and who they could. Inside the same, news crews were trying to get what they could on Alex Crain.
All morning as I ran errands, Alex and his family were constantly on my mind. What can I do? What can The Estates Community do? I really do not know what to do and yet I can't get rid of this feeling that I need to do something.
But what I will do now is write in my own words as a mother of a soon to be 14 year old. And the first thing that comes to my head is why? How could Alex manage at such a young age to pull the trigger? What in God's name would give him such pain as to go through with it? There has to be something much larger that we may or may never know.
As I am new to this whole teenage thing, I will admit, they do tend to be more moody, frustrated, constantly wanting to fit in, look right, talk right, and carry themselves like they know everything. It can be very trying on any parent. The way I try is constant communication. Though it may drive my teenage nuts at times as he thinks I'm so nosy, that's okay by me, I would rather be in his life than to be out.
The word juvenile and adult keep coming up in my head too. How could they consider to try him as an adult? He is only 14! I don't' care what he did, he does not have the mentality as an adult and I as a mother know it. The depths of Alex's emotions may have blinded his perception of reality. A possibility.
I do not know his past records or even if he had one, but come on, this age group has a hard time grasping the complexity of certain life situations. Mix that with trying to fit in, friends, peer pressure, hormones, and you may have a bubble ready to burst.
I am sure his parents are looking down with forgiveness and hoping their son will not be prosecuted as an adult. I would feel the same.
Thankfully it was good to hear on the news this morning that Alex's family is standing by him. But now we have to wait until December 30th arraignment for the state to decide whether he is is tried as and adult or juvenile. They plan to hold him until then, but the family wants him home. But I agree, they should hold him. I feel he needs help.
Another thing I learned is if they do try him as a juvenile, the maximum sentence is holding him until he turns 21, then released. If tried as an adult, it could be much longer.
Now what can we do in The Estates to help? I am willing and able to do something, but what? Can we do something for the oldest two boys? I hear one is coming home for the holidays and I read in the paper maybe another son lives here? A community potluck remembrance at the fairgrounds? Just a thought, though I would have no idea where to start with that one.
There is not much more to say other than to hope and pray this family gets through this. I will take it upon myself and place photos of his parents,Thomas and Kelly, on my Heaven Cent memorial page.
That's the least I can do. I even thought of a big ribbon to be placed as you enter The Estates . White ribbon would mean forgiveness, black could be mourning?
Any thoughts would be grateful, I plan on sending our feedback on the whole juvenile or adult sentencing to the right persons through the state judicial system. Every little bit helps.
-Blessings
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