General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Nancy Lanza feared son, Adam, was ‘getting worse’; told friend ‘he was burning himself ~ Daily News [View all]mzmolly
(50,984 posts)He could not feel physical pain. He also (reportedly) had autism, which might have created issues with appropriate empathy.
My thoughts are - IF he had trouble with empathy, he may have resented being different and not feeling emotionally or physically. So much so, that he decided to take his own life. However, before doing so, he wanted desperately to 'feel'. So, in his twisted mind, he committed the most horrible acts he could intellectualize, hoping they would bring him some emotion/empathy/humanity in his last moments. Killing your mother should bring about intense emotion and remorse. When that did not happen, he moved on to plan B. Something even more horrific than killing his own mother.
Granted, this is wild speculation on my part. I have no idea what his actual "motive" was.