| Donald Schalchlin: Victim or Villain?
He's the 15-year-old accused of helping cover up the murders of his mother and sister, Lori and Elizabeth Schalchlin.The teen was in court Wednesday so his attorney could hire a private investigator for the case. It's no mystery Donald had a troubled past but a new report might make you think twice about him. Did the system fail Donald? Why did no one step in to help?And is it possible lori and elizabeth might still be alive if something had been done sooner? Court papers say, at just 15, Donald's experienced alleged abuse, assault, and attempted suicide more than 100 times.The contents of his battered and broken home life fill the pages of a new document the Declination Report.In the report, Donald claims abuse came at the hands of both his dad and stepbrother...and literally at the hands.Donald claims he was frequently choked, and his mother neglected him.Between February 2003 and November of 2007, Child Protective Services received six reports about the Schalchlins.When Donald was just 11, a teacher reported he would "get fixated" on other students, smelled of urine, never did his homework and had ADHD, but claimed his mom refused to treat it.Again that year, a teacher reported Donald begged kids for food at school and speculated his mother "is not interested in taking care of his needs."By the time Donald was 14, a CPS report documents a house that sounded unlivable: hordes of animals, their droppings, and even a freezer on the "front porch full of animals that have died."Donald said it was too much to clean on his own.In mom's defense, Lori reportedly made claims that Donald was "out of control".This year, a counselor reported that Lori "was afraid of Donald because he had beaten her before."Did CPS ever check back in? That's unknown.The report also reveals Donald was not getting a proper education.
Unravelling the suicide clusters
Bonnie McCelland, 58, has felt at first hand the devastating fallout of a "cluster" suicide. First her only son Timothy killed himself after suffering depression. A single mother without the support of a partner, she then had to face the grieving parents of two of Timothy's friends, who also killed themselves shortly after his death. "As a parent, your heart is already shattered," she said. "But then, to look into the eyes of your friends and see the pain that your child has caused, is something you carry in your heart forever." She attempts to shed light on the reasons why a young person, with their life ahead of them, might choose to follow a friend into suicide. "When a suicide happens it's like a book has been taken off the library shelf," she said. "They open that book, and it gives them the direction of what to do." Message Ms McClelland now works to raise awareness of teenage suicides in her local town near Tampa in Florida.
Connect With Kids -- Childhood Depression, Anxiety, Suicide
A Connect With Kids special aired Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. on WGAL Channel 8. The topic -- childhood depression, anxiety, and suicide. More children today suffer from these issues and ailments than ever before and many of these kids are undiagnosed. One study reports that nearly a third of teens say they have felt sad or hopeless for at least two weeks in a row; 80 percent more teenage girls are hospitalized for depression than they were 10 years ago. .
Fears over 'suicide glamour' on social networking sites
Psychologists in Australia have warned about the power of glamorising death through social networking sites in the wake of a spate of suicides in the UK. Thirteen teenagers killed themselves in the south Wales town of Bridgend in the past 12 months, igniting concern that websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo may be to blame. Recent media reports have claimed the teenagers were killing themselves because memorial sites were seen as prestigious. .
Teenager arrested in suicide hijacking plot
His stated intent was to hijack the airplane and commit suicide," said George Bolds, an FBI spokesman in Memphis, Tennessee. "He did indicate he intended to die in Louisiana. It appears he had a ticket to Louisiana." Bolds said the boy indicated he had lived in Louisiana. The teen wanted to crash the plane into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, Louisiana, two CNN television affiliates in Nashville, WSMV and WTVF, reported, citing unnamed sources. The concert is scheduled for Friday night at the Lafayette Cajundome. Bolds said he had no information on whether the concert may have been targeted as part of the plot. In the teen's possession were handcuffs, duct tape and a type of rope or yarn, according to the FBI. Authorities noted that those are not prohibited items.
Britney wrote 'suicide' note before row
Britney Spears reportedly wrote a suicide letter days before she was taken to hospital following a custody dispute at her home.The singer allegedly wrote that she might be better off dead in the note, which was discovered in her bathroom by a friend.A source told The Sun: �The letter was very sad. Britney talked about her loneliness, how unfair life is and not being able to trust people."She wrote about how she will never be what people want her to be. She said 'Perhaps it would be better if I was dead'." However, Spears' friend Sam Lufti denied the claim, saying: "[It is] absolutely, 100% not true."Spears is also rumoured to have walked out of a shop changing room naked, before spending 45 minutes making "strange" noises in the cubicle with boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. The shop assistant told Life & Style: "I was blown away.
Tragic deaths taught Federer and Sampras to live for the moment
As Roger Federer begins pursuit of a third consecutive Australian Open title, pundits will be consumed with debate over his place in history. Fans will talk about the future, trying to determine when he will surpass Pete Sampras on the all-time Grand Slam wins list. As for Federer, he won't be caught up in any of that; not about the past or the future. He'll be too busy dealing with the here and now. .
Cuba poll sets scene for Fidel's fate
There has been no campaigning, political rallies are not allowed and the most famous candidate, Fidel Castro, has not been seen in public for almost a year-and-a-half. The only real indications that an election is taking place are the sheets of paper posted on shop and office windows, with a photograph and short biography of each candidate. Yet more than 90% of voters are expected to turn out on Sunday for what is a key step in determining whether 81-year-old Mr Castro remains as head of state. Under the constitution, the new National Assembly has to meet within 45 days to approve, from among its own numbers, the country's president, vice-president and executive Council of State for new five-year terms. 'Important role' Mr Castro handed temporary power to his younger brother Raul in July 2006, after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery.
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