Susan Klebold: "I Will Never Know Why"

[sabrina 1]

39. Well, the truth is most people who end up committing horrific crimes like this

fly under the radar until they do it. But now with so many of these massacres and with each one showing at least two factors that contribute to them, one the easy accessibility of weapons and two, the fact that there were signs that help was needed and that often people who knew them say they were not surprised. Eg, in this case, even though the media reported, incorrectly, that it was Ryan, the older brother, someone who knew them tweeted 'no, it has to be Adam'.

Klebold's mother seems to be saying that she had no idea her son was suicidal until months after the tragedy when she read all of his writings.

If those closest to them cannot tell, is it because they are not as involved in their lives as they should have been, or because they are so good at hiding their emotions around family members?

Imo, family is the least likely to believe their loved ones might be a threat to society even if they have experienced some violent reactions from them. The family becomes so accustomed and familiar with their behavior that they do not see it the way outsiders do.

I think this mother's disbelief that her son was so deeply depressed shows that parents need to be involved in the lives of teenagers. This family seemed to have a 'hands off' approach to their son, assuming wrongly, that all was well with him. While everyone who knew him outside the family, viewed him differently.