Student arrested for making ricin in dorm.

[Hunt]

<p>This kid essentially turned himself in before using the ricin to harm anybody (although obviously he exposed others to risk). A judge is going to want to moderate the punishment in those circumstances.</p>

[NYMomof2]

<p>Clearly, he is suffering from mental illness. But he went to a lot of trouble to make a substance that is deadly in small quantities. So I consider him dangerous.</p>

[jonri]

<p>Actually, Hunt, he didn’t turn himself in–at least if the news stories are correct. I was too critical of the RA for talking to news sources earlier. </p>

<p>I thought the RA was the accused’s RA. He wasn’t. He was a friend who was an RA, but not the accused’s RA. According to the article, the RA “was a former love interest.” The accused told the RA about the ricin in a personal conversation. Apparently, the accused had told several ofther students about the ricin. This time, one was an RA and called the counseling center. </p>

<p>If that’s what happened, he didn’t turn himself in. And if it’s what happened, it was not inappropriate for Lloyd (the RA) to talk to the media. I thought his conversation with the accused was in his role as RA.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>The defense’s version of the story is that he told a person he knew would take action. Apparently, the judge believed this.</p>

[Vladenschlutte]

<p>

I believe ‘ice’ or methamphetamine, which is also pretty toxic can be made in cars, dorm rooms or many other places. Scary that this kid did it and was only caught because he talked about.

</p>

<p>No, only RVs. </p>

<p>

It takes more than the beans to make ricin. You have to find the “recipe” and buy the other things, even if you obtain the beans. Then, you have to go through the procedure to get the ricin out of the beans. He reportedly wore a mask while making the ricin. The news reports I have read make it sound like the ricin may have been intended for a particular student. I hope he gets some good mental health treatment–scary!

</p>

<p>What? Walt mislead me.</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about the story, but I don’t think you can say he’s mentally ill based solely on the fact that he made ricin. Does anyone even know for sure that he was planning on using it to kill someone? </p>

[jonri]

<p>Oh, okay, Hunt, but then that’s still the defense version. I don’t think he turned himself in…at all. And the student who reacted was apparently worried about his mental health–and whether he was suicidal–and NOT about the safety of the other people in the dorm. </p>

<p>Whether he intended to use it on someone else is disputed. Actually, the prosecutors said he may have intended to commit suicide or hurt another student–who had already gotten a “no contact” order against him from Georgetown.</p>

<p>I’d do the same if it were my kid—but if this kid didn’t have someone who can pay and will pay for a private attorney he’d be in jail right now. No psychiatric facility. </p>

<p>Oh, update : the government is appealing the order that he be released to a psychiatric facility–and there’s a stay to allow the appeal. </p>

<p><a href=“Government Appeals Decision to Release Georgetown Ricin Suspect – NBC4 Washington”>Government Appeals Decision to Release Georgetown Ricin Suspect – NBC4 Washington;

<p>It’s interesting that, as usual, the news accounts are inconsistent. He’s a freshman or a sophomore. The other person asked for the “no contact” order or they both did. He told his RA or he told “a former love interest.” He was suicidal or he wasn’t and the ricin was going to be used against someone else. <a href=“http://dcist.com/2014/03/georgetown_student_charged_with_pos.php”>http://dcist.com/2014/03/georgetown_student_charged_with_pos.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I agree with whoever said that making ricin doesn’t prove he’s mentally ill. And, even if he is, as long as he knew what he was doing, that’ s not going to fly as a defense, IMO. </p>

[EPTR]

<p>There really isn’t any “good” reason to make Ricin.</p>

[jonri]

<p>Update: the magistrate’s ruling that he could go to a private psychiatric facility instead of jail was reversed. Further info re his conversation in the Washington Post, if accurate, makes it unclikely he made the ricin to kill himself.
<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/georgetown-student-alleged-to-have-ricin-must-remain-in-jail-judge-rules/2014/03/31/c3f05f32-b8e9-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/georgetown-student-alleged-to-have-ricin-must-remain-in-jail-judge-rules/2014/03/31/c3f05f32-b8e9-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[Consolation]

<p>I fail to understand the wisdom of adding one more mentally ill person not receiving treatment to the prison population on the public dime. If his family were willing to pay for him to be at a psychiatric facility, and his whereabouts could be controlled, why on earth not? Sure, he is lucky that his family can pay for it. But so what? A) He did not in fact harm anyone, and B) We are not talking an “affluenza” defense for someone who actually killed people. I’d like to see MORE people in treatment facilities rather than jail.</p>