Friday, April 07, 2000
Paducah teen killer's motives remain unclear
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE — Newly released documents shed little light on Michael Carneal's motive for a 1997 Heath High School shooting spree that left three dead and five wounded.
Mr. Carneal, 16, said he felt angry, afraid “and mad at the world,” but never addressed questions of why he opened fire, according to a 500-page deposition taken in early February. Mr. Carneal said he could not remember shooting.
The Courier-Journal obtained copies of the deposition from an attorney involved in a civil lawsuit brought by the families of the three girls killed.
In it, Mr. Carneal said he could not maintain social relationships years before the shootings.
Mr. Carneal was sentenced to 25 years in prison at age 15
for the Dec. 1, 1997, shootings near Paducah, Ky. When he turns 18, he is expected to be sent to state prison. The deposition was given at the Northern Kentucky Youth Development Center, a state juvenile facility in Crittenden where Mr. Carneal is being held.
He told questioners in a 13-hour deposition that he felt “crappy” when he killed a former friend, Nicole Hadley.
Asked what he was afraid of, Mr. Carneal answered:
“Ridicule, not having friends, rejection, people under my bed, people in vents, trees falling down and hitting my house, burglars, getting beat up,” he said.
Mr. Carneal also said he felt his friends or family were plotting against him for some reason.
In a previously unreleased final psychiatric evaluation of Mr. Carneal, he told questioners he did not have a problem with the people in the prayer group, but said his friends didn't like them. He was envious of their popularity and their friendships and felt rejected by them.
Mr. Carneal has grown from 5-foot-2 to 6-1 while incarcerated. He now weighs 245 pounds.
He plans to finish his high-school work, then take college correspondence courses, he said.
Mr. Carneal has written two letters to Melissa Jenkins, once of his victims who was left paralyzed. The contents of the letters have not been revealed.
Weird weather due for weekend
Readers cry foul over ballpark design
City supervisor put on paid leave
Driver who wrecked festival gets 141
FWW crackdown widens
Teacher's union losing president
Bad time to switch city managers
Preparing kids for a multicultural world
Teach kids to be 'culturally competent'
Minority health fair addresses barriers
Minority scholars program to honor namesake at events
New look, new content coming to the Enquirer
Adult club to open near speedway
Autopsy scheduled on 18-month-old boy
Children report abduction attempt
Defendant admits he killed girl
More students face drug counts
Police chief's leave a mystery
GET TO IT
NBC to bench Saturday night shows
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
More summer camps for kids
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Woman blessed with love for two careers
2 admit 9 Toledo slayings in '80s
3 taken to hospital after leak at plant
ACLU welcomes censorship foe
Cheviot, workers OK pacts
Cities: Cable bills stifle competition
City planner promoted to head
Death for killer upheld
Growth strategies proposed
Kids help school buy curtain
Lebanon names city planner to head department
Paducah teen killer's motives remain unclear
Range of care to be offered
Schools to battle fund cap
Schools to make up threat days
Two more resign from Warren MRDD board
Village, county clash over cash
