https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:49:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think/page/2#post-1682613 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 18:05:13 +0000 BananaPancakes 1682613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Agree fully! I see no need for these girls to ever be a part of society again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682590 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:57:52 +0000 Adira 1682590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Agree 100%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682584 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:56:26 +0000 Mommy Finger 1682584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think one of the worst things was that one girl was quoted as saying something like it was weird that she didn't feel any remorse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682550 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:33:14 +0000 blackbird 1682550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They sound like psychopaths.....scary :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682531 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:26:16 +0000 wonderstruck 1682531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they should be tried as adults for many of the reasons already stated. Trying them as adults does not equal putting them in adult prison, as many seem to think. Clearly they need mental/psychological help and should be put in a place where they can get it. But the idea of these girls being released at age 18 and potentially being able to have their record sealed or expunged, as often happens with crimes committed by minors, is terrifying. There is something wrong at a very deep level for a 12 year old to plan out the murder of their innocent friend, and actually try to carry it out. Pre-teen or adult, someone capable of an act like that needs to be put away and under serious treatment for a very long time for the good of both them self and others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682387 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:21:35 +0000 MsLipGloss 1682387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: they wouldn't be housed with adults (not in a direct contact situation). they would be eligible to receive the same sentence as an adult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682380 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:20:09 +0000 MrsSCB 1682380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in this case it seems reasonable. The crime was planned for so long and was so brutal. I'd be interested to hear more about their mental states after being evaluated by doctors, but it seems to me that they knew what they did was wrong.</p> <p>Something I don't agree with, however, is I read yesterday that in Wisconsin anyone 10 and older is automatically charged as an adult in cases of homicide or attempted homicide. I think it should be on a case-by-case basis, not a blanket rule. </p> <p><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/wisconsin-stabbing-highlights-juvenile-crime-laws" rel="nofollow">http://bigstory.ap.org/article/wisconsin-stabbing-highlights-juvenile-crime-laws</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682376 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:19:29 +0000 LuLu Mom 1682376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: agreed. They are 12, yes they did an awful thing but they are too young to be in prison with adults. They are not adults, they are children. Send them to juvenile detention not prison where they will be eaten alive.</p> <p>Edit: they need psychological help and it's known that prison is not the place to get that. They need to be committed to a place that will take their mental health seriously, and I would hope maybe the Juvenile system would be better at this, however I'm not sure if that's really the case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682354 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:11:51 +0000 MsLipGloss 1682354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Wow. I am speechless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682268 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:49:33 +0000 plantains 1682268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I agree with everything you said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682187 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:18:28 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1682187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: When I made the mention of missing out on the rest of "life" basically, I made note that THEY themselves personally stripped themself of a future. I didn't say that they should get to experience childhood because they're only 12. But it's a sobering thought that what they've done has taken it away. I agree after reading a few more articles myself that they should be tried as adults. I do think there were serious deeper psychological issues going on.</p> <p>@MsLipGloss: I found this article which detailed what happened - apparently they had planned how they would do it and "chickened out" twice before actually doing it. <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Girl-Charged-in-Stabbing-is-Mentally-Ill-Attorney-Says-261723691.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Girl-Charged-in-Stabbing-is-Mentally-Ill-Attorney-Says-261723691.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682161 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:08:56 +0000 Raindrop 1682161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: @MsLipGloss: Yes the more I'm reading about this story the more I'm leaning with they should be trailed as adults. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682151 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:05:42 +0000 pinkcupcake 1682151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read several articles on this story now, and it still horrifies me to no end. I think they are correct in trying them as adults. This was an extremely planned, deliberate crime that took months and and months of thought. Maybe I'm just too cold hearted, but I could care less that they're missing out on the rest of their childhood. </p> <p>The world would be a safer place if they were put away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682148 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:04:52 +0000 Grace 1682148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm leaning to agreeing with Cole. I don't like how being tried as a juvenile seems to erase what you've done when you turn 18. But I don't want to give up on them either. They are still children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682127 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:58:08 +0000 pui 1682127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There have been cases of adults acting just as absurdly. One case that comes to mind is the "vampire killers" who killed a man because one of them was a vampire and needed to feed. These were adult women. They didn't get let off easy just because their reason for committing murder was so absurd. I don't think it matters much that these kids said they did this crime to appease a fictional character, it's the nature of the crime that matters. </p> <p>I'm sure lots of 12-year-olds are interested in the occult and write "spells" and perform "rituals" and believe in evil spirits and even think those evil spirits are cool... but they don't plan and carry out the murder of a classmate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682125 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:58:02 +0000 MsLipGloss 1682125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: I totally agree about their ability to be able to *mimic* appropriate social behaviors, but that they completely lack an innate respect for life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682111 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:55:10 +0000 MsLipGloss 1682111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: It's planning the execution of a violent crime that is the issue here, not their belief in a *myth* . . . which is not at all like planning to be good to get a treat at the end of a shopping trip, or planning to get your allowance by doing chores. . . like @Pui: explained, if the first plunge of the knife (it takes a surprising amount of force to stab someone) and/or their friend begging and pleading for her life didn't compel them to stop . . . then their mental capacity (and intestinal fortitude) stands in stark brutal contrast to every other child and adult that I know whose mental capacity could not even bear the thought of planning such a crime, let alone carrying it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682109 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:54:37 +0000 Raindrop 1682109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very interesting first comment that kind of blew my "Santa" theory. I am still on the fence of the adult vs child trail though.</p> <p>----------------------------------------</p> <p>These two girls attempted to intimately murder a friend by repeatedly stabbing her in a secluded environment. Empathic human beings of any age simply do not attempt to stab people to death outside of imminent self-defense of life. While frontal lobe development is still continuing in a 12 year old person, basic regard for life, a basic empathy for other people, and a fundamental intrinsic natural understanding that murdering people is fundamentally immoral should already be fully present by age 12. While the author of this article has a 9 year-old who still believes in Santa and a 13 year-old still wary of a bogeyman under the bed, neither of them are actively contemplating or attempting to kill people.</p> <p>These two girls have no fundamental empathy for others, no conscience, no intrinsic regard for life. They are not "disturbed" but are fully and irredeemably sociopathic. There's no cure, no therapy which can instill what should be a natural and innate regard for life. Therapy will improve their ability to mimic superficial behaviors in social situations, but they will never be anything beyond a liability and burden to society. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682101 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:52:14 +0000 snowjewelz 1682101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, so crazy. I read all the comments below the article too. I lean towards trying them as adults.</p> <p>I feel like believing in Santa or boogey man or having other make belief fantasies, is still different from thinking that they should stab their friend 19 times to kill her as a sacrifice for this slenderman. </p> <p>I think they need a further pysch eval to figure out what's going on with them to determine how long they need to be in the system for. I'm not sure if 6 yrs would be enough right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682091 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:50:09 +0000 singingbee 1682091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I think I read that they even tried to do something else, but decided this plan was going to be more fun. I just can't even imagine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682079 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:46:43 +0000 Raindrop 1682079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am trying my hardest to remember when I stop believing in Santa. Was I younger than 12? I don't remember. I want to say it was around that time maybe. My parents have this rule that as long as we "believe" we still get presents from him so I forgot when I started to pretend to believe.</p> <p>I remember trying to being good so I could get a good present. To basically appease the myth of Santa. Isn't that planning?</p> <p>From what I understand this character is a little bit like Santa but in a very very twisted way.</p> <p>I think they should be tried as children because obviously they don't have the mental capacity yet to know what is fact and fiction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682077 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:46:18 +0000 Synchronicity 1682077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I agree 100%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682072 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:44:19 +0000 pui 1682072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think there is a big difference between a child acting out in anger and hurting someone else, or simply not understanding that say, a gun is dangerous... and meticulously planning the murder of a friend for months and then executing the plan and stabbing someone 19 times. Imagine, these girls kept on stabbing even when their friend was bleeding and screaming for her life. They really did try and kill her, then they left her for dead. They knew exactly what they were doing.</p> <p>I think they absolutely should be tried as adults. 12 years old is old enough for them to have understood completely what they were doing and I think the premeditation they put in to their crime proves that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682069 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:43:25 +0000 Cole 1682069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What does it mean to be tried as an adult? If life in an adult prison is likely than I say no. But if it means the court can keep them under their care past the age of 18 and it stays on their record I am OK with it. </p> <p>I absolutely believe their brains aren't fully developed yet and understanding the long term ramifications for both themselves and the victim probably was beyond them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682061 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:39:13 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1682061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is mortifying. I just cannot wrap my head around it. My gut reaction is no, they're children - try them as such.</p> <p>but after reading the article, I do think they should be tried as adults and carry this with them. It is a sobering thought how this one act will define the one life they get. They won't have the high school experience, going off to college, getting their first job, marriage, kids etc... they have stripped themselves of a future, basically. And that's why it seems "unfair" to try them as adults. But like others mentioned, this was methodically contemplated for months on end. I think there is a psychological issue going on if they are 12 years old and believing in myths/fairy tales. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682033 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:33:43 +0000 Alivoo01 1682033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Agreed! It was methodically planned for MONTHS! It wasn't spur of the moment thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682032 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:33:31 +0000 Happygal 1682032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly don't know what to think. It's so bizarre and horrific to me. </p> <p>Had anyone ever heard of this internet character before? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682028 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:31:48 +0000 singingbee 1682028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682025 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:29:59 +0000 winniebee 1682025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: completely agree </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/12-year-olds-being-tried-as-adults-what-do-you-think#post-1682020 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:29:22 +0000 NovBaby1112 1682020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: @MsLipGloss: totally agree! </p>