By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Clay Shrout

EDDYVILLE, Ky. - During his 10 years behind bars, Clay Shrout has been anything but a model prisoner.

Shrout, 27, has chalked up 29 pages of disciplinary actions in the four facilities where he has been incarcerated since 1995.

His possession of an L-shaped, 10-inch stainless steel bar and a plan to escape earned him a transfer in 1996 from the minimum security Kentucky Reformatory at LaGrange to the maximum security prison at Eddyville in southwestern Kentucky.

In 1997, guards there confiscated from him what appeared to be the makings of a knife, prison records show.

The latest disciplinary reports in his file are for failure to stand for the prisoner count - most recently on Aug. 25, 2002.

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Shrout avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty, but mentally ill, for the May 26, 1994, murders of his parents and two sisters in their Florence home. Charges related to holding his trigonometry class hostage that day were dropped.

He was sentenced Oct. 14, 1994, as a 17-year-old juvenile to life without parole for 25 years each on four counts of murder. After his 18th birthday, he was resentenced and committed to the custody of the Kentucky Department of Corrections as an adult Feb. 24, 1995.While his health records are not public because of federal privacy laws, previous news reports indicated he had not sought mental health help while behind bars.

Shrout did not respond to a request for an Enquirer interview. He is eligible for parole in May 2019, but Jeff Martin, commander of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Boone County Police Department at the time of the incident, rates Shrout's chances for parole as "slim to none."

"I can't imagine that he would be considered. If they let Clay Shrout out, Clay Shrout will kill again," he said.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com

History of school violenceChecklist of warning signsHere's a sample of school shootings and episodes of violence in the nation's schools since 1989:

• Jan. 17, 1989 - Stockton, Calif. Five children were shot to death and 30 were wounded at Cleveland Elementary School by Patrick Edward Purdy, a former student and drifter who then killed himself.

• May 26, 1994 - Union, Ky. Clay Shrout, 17-year-old high school senior, killed his parents and two sisters, then briefly took 23 students and a teacher hostage at Ryle High School.

• Dec. 1, 1997 - West Paducah, Ky. Three students were killed and five wounded by Michael Carneal, 14, as they participated in a prayer circle at Heath High School.

• March 24, 1998 - Jonesboro, Ark. Four students and one teacher were killed, and 10 others wounded as Westside Middle School emptied during a false fire alarm. Mitchell Johnson, 13, and Andrew Golden, 11, shot at their classmates and teacher from nearby woods.

• May 21, 1998 - Springfield, Ore. Two students were killed and 22 others wounded in the Thurston High School cafeteria by 15-year-old Kip Kinkel. Earlier, he had shot his parents to death at home.

• April 20, 1999 - Littleton, Colo. Twelve students and one teacher were killed, and 23 others were wounded at Columbine High School. Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, then killed themselves, bringing the death toll to 15.

• March 5, 2001 - Santee, Calif. Student Charles "Andy" Andrew Williams shot two students to death at Santana High School, then wounded 11 other students, a student teacher and campus security worker.

Sources: School Violence Chronology and The National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

After studying characteristics of youngsters who have caused school-associated violent deaths, the National School Safety Center, has identified behaviors that could indicate a youth's potential for harming him/herself or others:

• A history of tantrums and uncontrollable angry outbursts.

• Habitually makes violent threats when angry.

• Has previously brought a weapon to school.

• Background of serious disciplinary problems at school and in the community.

• Background of drug, alcohol or other substance abuse or dependency.

• Is on the fringe of his/her peer group with few or no close friends.

• Is preoccupied with weapons, explosives or other incendiary devices.

• Has been truant, suspended or expelled from school.

• Displays cruelty to animals.

• Has little or no supervision and support from parents or a caring adult.

• Has witnessed or been a victim of abuse or neglect in the home.

• Has been bullied and/or bullies or intimidates peers or younger children.

• Tends to blame others for difficulties and problems she/he causes her/himself.

• Consistently prefers TV shows, movies or music expressing violent themes and acts.

• Prefers reading materials dealing with violent themes, rituals and abuse.

• Reflects anger, frustration and the dark side of life in school essays or writing projects.

• Is involved with a gang or an antisocial group on the fringe of peer acceptance.

• Is often depressed and/or has significant mood swings.

• Has threatened or attempted suicide.