Columbine

by Jeff Kass

  It also appears that Eric’s site was unavailable, at least temporarily, after the Browns’ 1998 web report. Aaron Brown said he contacted AOL to report the site, then noticed it had been taken down, according to the attorney general’s report.

  Eric and Dylan’s appearances before Magistrate Jack DeVita come in part from Howard Pankratz, “Youths claimed theft from van was their first crime—Jeffco magistrate questioned two during ‘98 plea,” The Denver Post, Wednesday, 28 April 28, 1999.

  Eight: Diversion

  The diversion files of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold are publicly available.

  In the diversion file counselor Andrea Sanchez notes that Eric had brought in a “new” apology letter to her May 14.

  Link records show Eric and Dylan only worked together one day at Link and Dave Kirchoff noted the final review for Eric at Link.

  The director of diversion, Bobbi Spicer, said the MADD panel is not always a drinking issue but meant to channel a victim’s pain.

  Nine: Gun Show

  “My wrath for January’s incident” comes from JC26237 (PDF 321).

  The official report says Eric put X’s over the faces of many in his yearbook.

  Eric’s references for Tortilla Wraps comes from “Fatal Friendship.”

  Eric at Tortilla Wraps comes from shift manager David Cave at JC10217 and Jennifer Laufenberg’s interview with police. JC-13306.

  Dylan’s diversion file and the police interview with his parents talk about the Computer Renaissance job at JC10508.

  Eric’s research paper on the Nazis is October 1998 at JC26134. There also appear to be various versions of the paper in the files released in 2006. Eric’s other school essays and diary entries here also come from the 2006 files.

  Robyn Anderson and her thoughts on Dylan come from her deposition, news stories, and her interviews with police. The account of the purchases comes from Anderson police interviews, news clips, and police reports of interviews with gun dealers James Washington and Ronald Hartmann beginning at JC8245.

  The two shotguns date to at least 1969; the rifle to 1998: JC8203.

  Robyn Anderson told ABC News and the Colorado legislature that Eric and Dylan did not say what they wanted the guns for but she assumed they might go hunting. She said in her deposition the boys might also use the guns for target shooting. She said some people, like her father, only use them for gun collections.

  Wayne Harris taking the call from Green Mountain Guns and saying he didn’t order any clips comes from the basement tapes.

  Billy Dao (JC10146), Mathew Paul Jackson (JC10153), and other Blackjack employee interviews say Eric and Dylan tried a classmate and other Blackjack employees to get guns. Phil Duran information comes from his police interview JC8213.

  Manes information comes from his police (ATF) interview: Begins on JC8237.

  Info on Rampart Range camera comes from Jeff Kass and Kevin Vaughan, “Harris-Klebold Video Released—Tape Made 6 Weeks Before Teens’ Bloody Columbine Rampage,” Rocky Mountain News, Thursday, 23 Oct. 2003.

  Ten: The Basement Tapes

  Except for the intro to the chapter on the basement tapes, I tried to hew as closely as possible to the chronological order, but total accuracy is near impossible. I have not seen the tapes, but viewing them would probably not solve the entire problem. Several studied viewings would be needed for a full transcript.

  It appears newspapers and TIME magazine often take selective basement tape quotes out of chronological sequence to tell a story—i.e. small, focused highlights to discuss, for example, their arsenal. It is still honest and completely understandable, and not necessarily the media’s job to give the official transcript.

  The sheriff’s office has declined to make the tapes fully public, and lead investigator Kate Battan, while helpful at some points, declined to help fill in holes during a latter round of factchecking. My method was to generally use the sheriff’s summary (beginning at JC10374) as a guide for the chronological order. The summary sometimes gives full quotes from the tapes but often fails to specify who is speaking and just says something to the effect of “they said.” I used specific quotes and more details from media accounts to try and fill in the timeline outlined by the sheriff. The first part of the chapter, however, is an amalgam and not meant to represent chronological order.

  The basement tapes, according to the sheriff’s official report, appear to consist of three different tapes: “One of the tapes was almost two hours long and taped on three separate occasions in March 1999. The second tape, about 22 minutes in length, was shot on two separate occasions on April 11 and 12, 1999. The third tape, 40 minutes long, was taped on eight separate occasions from early April 1999 to the morning of April 20, 1999. Harris and Klebold taped a tour of Harris’s bedroom and showed off their weapons and bombs. They recorded each other conducting dress rehearsals and they taped the drive in Harris’s car to buy supplies needed for their plans.”

  A major article on the tapes that also says there are “five secret videos” is Nancy Gibbs and Timothy Roche with Andrew Goldstein, Maureen Harrington and Richard Woodbury, “The Columbine Tapes,” TIME, 20 Dec. 1999, 40-57.

  Most tapes appear to have been made in Harris’ home. In writing that one session was filmed on April 17 at Dylan’s house the day of prom, I relied on Peggy Lowe, “Killers’ Hatred Shows in Vitriolic ‘Film Festival’,” The Denver Post, Tuesday, 14 Dec. 1999.

  The tapes being called visual suicide notes comes from Howard Pankratz, “Police Reveal Videos Made by Columbine High Killers,” The Denver Post, Thursday, 11 Nov. 1999.

  For parts of the first basement tapes read at the Manes sentencing, where Eric and Dylan thank the gun suppliers, a detailed account comes from Karen Abbott, “Video Message From 2 Killers,” Rocky Mountain News, Saturday, 13 Nov. 1999.

  Battan says all the excerpts she read at the sentencing were from the basement tapes.

  Another story is “Killers Taped Chilling Goodbye,” Rocky Mountain News, Monday, 13 Dec. 1999.

  The sheriff trying to downplay the tapes comes from Jeff Kass, “Court to Hear Excerpt From Columbine Killers’ Video,” Chicago Tribune, Friday, 12 Nov. 1999.

  One story on Mink not wanting to show the tapes comes from Jeff Kass and Kevin Vaughan with Lynn Bartels and Charlie Brennan, “Sheriff Won’t Release Columbine Recordings—But Mink Planning to Make Public 936 Pages of Documents,” Rocky Mountain News, Tuesday, 20 June 2006.

  Judy Brown recalls the part where Eric angrily reacts to Dylan being Jewish. Dwayne Fuselier recalls the same scene, but in his mind, Eric was surprised rather than angry.

  Placing the various bombs and keeping the fire department busy comes from the official report.

  Eleven: Senior Projects

  Eric considering a two-year college and majoring in computer graphics comes from JC26631 (PDF 717). In his diversion file, Eric talked of majoring in computer science and joining the Marines. His dream of being a “marine or something” at JC26632 (PDF 718).

  Author’s interview with Gonzales occurred on 19 Sept. 2000.

  The summary of Gonzales’ interview with police comes at JC10085. It says that after learning of the Luvox, Gonzales said he would call Eric back about his eligibility to join the Marines because Gonzales wasn’t sure. The summary adds that Gonzales called back Friday or Saturday and left a message for Eric to call him. Gonzales never got a call back, and so never told Eric he was ineligible.

  Rather than rely on that secondhand summary, I defer to my direct interview with Gonzales. Gonzales may not have fully known what Luvox was, or have given Eric an official rejection, but based on what Gonzales heard of the drug that night at the Harrises’, he figured it would disqualify Eric. That message seems to have been made clear, and Eric reportedly mentioned the rejection to his friends the next day (see No Easy Answers page 121, and Lynn Bartels, “Parents Found Bomb in
Room—Harris’ Pal Tells FBI, Paper That Dad Detonated Explosive With His Son, Didn’t Report It,” Rocky Mountain News, Saturday, 29 May 1999.). Gonzales also says he called his boss immediately after leaving the Harris home to say Eric was no longer a candidate.

  “Fatal Friendship” gives account of Rock N’ Bowl on Eric’s last birthday, as do the police reports with those who were there.

  Blackjack owner Christopher Lau talks about Eric and Dylan’s work at JC-10176.

  Dylan’s essay on avenger in a trench coat is on page JC10467.

  Eric’s dream essay comes from JC 26753 (PDF 839).

  Official report says Dylan was going to University of Arizona for dorm room. The conversation between Sue Klebold and Judy Brown after Arizona comes from various accounts the Browns have given and no easy answers. Dylan’s discussion with Horvath about Arizona comes from my interview with Horvath.

  Dylan’s exchange with Peggy Dodd comes from my interviews with Rich Long in 2007 and 2008.

  Susan DeWitt told police about her date with Eric at JC10207.

  Dylan’s behavior before, during, and after prom comes from “Fatal Friendship,” and Robyn Anderson, Kelli Brown, Nate Dykeman, and Sue Klebold police interviews. Also, Devon Adams interviews with me. The description of Eric’s clothing at after-prom comes from Kristi Epling. Prom at Denver Design Center comes from JC 8194.

  The “26.5 hours” Columbine diary entry for Dylan is from official report.

  Police reports with Robyn Anderson, Eric Jackson (JC-10769), and Dustin Gorton (JC-3157 and JC-10733) discuss Eric and Dylan on the day before Columbine. The video may have been released after the shootings: Rock music blares on the stereo as the boys order orange soda and “cinnamonies.” Someone jokes about getting ketchup for the cinnamonies.

  Manes’ dealings with Eric the night before Columbine comes from his police statement.

  A statement from a KMFDM member opposing Eric’s actions and beliefs was released after Columbine.

  “To do” lists are at JC026022 to 26025 (PDF 103106).

  Dylan saying “I just wanted to apologize . . . ” on the final segment of the basement tapes comes from No Easy Answers page 207. Some other parts come from “Killers Taped Chilling Goodbye.”

  Twelve: Violent Profiles

  Fuselier hesitates to definitively say Harris was a psychopath, but notes that he acts like one. Information from Fuselier comes from numerous interviews with him from 2004-2008.

  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th ed. TR, s.v., “Antisocial Personality Disorder.”

  Robert D. Hare, Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us (New York: The Guilford Press, 1999).

  Other cites on causes of antisocial personality disorder:

  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antisocialpersonalitydisorder/DS00829/DSECTION=3

  http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/~kopeikin/103lec7.htm

  Aubrey Immelman information from numerous interviews with him from 2004-2008.

  Immelman approvingly quotes psychologist Theodore Millon that the “malevolent psychopath” is “the least attractive of the antisocial variants because it includes individuals who are especially vindictive and hostile.” Millon also talks of the “coldblooded ruthlessness.”

  Eric’s “sadistic”diary entry at JC26016 (PDF 97).

  Mayo Clinic gives causes of depression at mayoclinic.com.

  Depressives more likely to commit suicide: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/olderadultsdepressionandsuicidefacts.shtml#role

  On Eric and Dylan committing suicide:

  “Who are we to tell Eric what he should or should not do?” is the thought process, Fuselier says.

  Immelman says, “That’s the ultimate control. You’re not going to let them kill you. You will take your own life when you’re ready to do it.”

  Jeremy Coid, “The Epidemiology of Abnormal Homicide and Murder Followed by Suicide,” Psychological Medicine (Great Britain), 1983, 13, 855860.

  And, James Selkin, “Rescue Fantasies in Homicide-Suicide,” Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Vol. 6 (2), Summer 1976, 79-85.

  Anthony Barbaro comes from Bill Dedman, “Bullying, Tormenting Often Led to Revenge in Cases Studied,” Chicago SunTimes, Sunday, 15 Oct. 2000.

  Also, “Upstate Youth in Sniper Trial a Suicide,” New York Times, Sunday, 2 Nov. 1975.

  And, Ford Fessenden with Fox Butterfield, William Glaberson and Laurie Goodstein, “They Threaten, Seethe and Unhinge, Then Kill in Quantity,” New York Times, Sunday, 9 April 2000.

  James P. McGee and Caren R. DeBernardo, “The Classroom Avenger,” Sheppard Pratt Health System, originally published in The Forensic Examiner, Volume 8, Nos. 5 and 6, May-June, 1999.

  Mayo Clinic on atypical depression: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/atypicaldepression/AN01363

  Readings and quotations on Southern and Western violence (in chronological order of when studies were published):

  Richard E. Nisbett, “Violence and U.S. Regional Culture,” American Psychologist, 1993. Vol. 48 No. 4, 441449.

  Dov Cohen, Richard E. Nisbett, “Self-Protection and the Culture of Honor: Explaining Southern Violence,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (PSPB), October 1994, Vol. 20 No. 5, 551567.

  Dov Cohen, Richard E. Nisbett, Brian F. Bowdle, Norbert Schwarz, “Insult, Aggression, and the Southern Culture of Honor: An ‘Experimental Ethnography,’” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1996. Vol. 70 No. 5, 945960.

  Dov Cohen, “Law, Social Policy, and Violence: The Impact of Regional Cultures,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1996, Vol. 70 No. 5, 961978.

  Dov Cohen, Richard E. Nisbett, “Field Experiments Examining the Culture of Honor: The Role of Institutions in Perpetuating Norms About Violence,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (PSPB), November 1997, Vol. 23 No. 11, 11881199.

  Dov Cohen, “Culture, Social Organization, and Patterns of Violence,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998, Vol. 75 No. 2, 408419.

  Dov Cohen, Joseph Vandello, Sylvia Puente, Adrian Rantilla, “‘When You Call Me That, Smile!’ How Norms for Politeness, Interaction Styles, and Aggression Work Together in Southern Culture,” Social Psychology Quarterly, 1999, Vol. 62 No. 3, 257275.

  Stephanie Verlinden, Michel Hersen, and Jay Thomas, “Risk Factors in School Shootings,” Clinical Psychology Review, 2000, Vol. 20 No. 1, 356.

  National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2002) “Deadly Lessons: Understanding Lethal School Violence.” Case Studies of School Violence Committee. Mark H. Moore, Carol V. Petrie, Anthony A. Braga, and Brenda L. McLaughlin, Editors. Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.

  Readings on suicide in the West include:

  Karen Auge, “State’s High Suicide Rate Slowly Getting Some Care,” The Denver Post, Saturday, 6 May 2000.

  Todd S. Purdum, “Bleak Statistics Tarnish Nevada’s Glitter,” New York Times, Saturday, 19 May 2001.

  Bill Scanlon, “Injury Deaths Down Statewide,” Rocky Mountain News, Friday, 7 June 2002.

  Electra Draper, “State’s Suicide Rate Eighth-Highest,” The Denver Post, Thursday, 29 Nov. 2007.

  On suicide, see also Madelyn S. Gould, Sylvan Wallenstein, and Marjorie Kleinman, “Time-Space Clustering of Teenage Suicide,” American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 131, No. 1. 71-78.

  Thirteen: The Klebolds: Searching

  Those present at the April 10, 1999 interview with Klebolds comes from police report.

  Dylan’s undated diary entry on society appears to be a couple months before Columbine if you assume the entries are in chronological order; an entry a couple pages before that is dated January 1999. JC-26416 (PDF 501).

  The Klebolds the day of Columbine comes from Rollie Inskeep police report (JC-10522) a
nd Inskeep interview with author 29 May 2002.

  Robyn Anderson gave this account in her deposition, as she recalled a post-Columbine visit with Tom and Sue Klebold at their home. “They said that he [Dylan] acted kind of weird that morning when he was leaving, that he was just kind of like—when he closed the door to leave, he just said, ‘Bye,’ you know, like—like he was in a bad mood,” Anderson said. “And his mom said that she had planned on asking him what was wrong when he got home from school.”

  Dykeman’s information comes from police interviews. Also, Tom Klebold and Dykeman interviews with police pretty much agree on what was said in their conversation the day of Columbine.

  Don Marxhausen interviews with author include 27 Sept. 2000; 5 Oct. 2000; 11 Oct. 2002; and 17 Jan. 2007.

  Dee Grant interview with author 31 May 2002. See also J. R. Moehringer, “No One Really Knew Them—Not Even Their Parents,” Los Angeles Times, Sunday, 25 April 1999.

  Klebolds fighting autopsy in Kevin Vaughan, “Klebold Parents Release Autopsy—Decision Ends Long Legal Battle to Keep It Sealed,” Rocky Mountain News, Saturday, 11 Jan. 2003.

  First Klebold statement comes from media reports on Thursday, 22 April 1999.

  Klebold funeral includes author interview with Marxhausen, Kornfeld interview with author 25 June 2002, media accounts, and “Exorcising the Pain.”

  Edgar Berg says Klebolds were prepped for a television appearance.

  Klebold letter to Brian Rohrbough in Beth DeFalco and Evan Dreyer, “Klebolds Saw No Hint of Son’s Rage, Letter Says,” The Denver Post, Saturday, 19 June 1999.

  Robyn Anderson was deposed on 16 Aug. 2001.

  Marxhausen and Adams attest to Klebolds planning scrapbook.

  Lawsuit settlements include Karen Abbott and Hector Gutierrez, “Settlement Announced—Insurance Companies to Pay $2.5 Million to Families of Columbine Shooting Victims,” Rocky Mountain News, Friday, 20 April 2001.