Life shapes everyone differently according to the experiences one has faced. Most of the time, the things that we have the least control or choice over have a significant impact on who we become. Such things as the place of birth, family, and race can go a great way to determine the outcome of a person’s life. Just like in chaos theory, the butterfly effect explains how a single event in one’s lifetime is possible in the alteration of the whole life outcome. Richard Beasley was sentenced to death for the murder of three men in Ohio. He partnered with a teenager to lure job seekers in Craiglist by a false advertisement of jobs, and later killing them cold-bloodedly. However, behind this atrocious act, is a man who underwent a lot of physical pain and suffering in his childhood that shaped him to become a wicked person. There could be a slight chance that if Richard Beasley had a better childhood, his life would have been different. Richard Beasley’s experiences during childhood, the impact of family influence, the early twenties, diagnosis and treatment, and substance abuse led to an infamous action that brought about his incarceration.
Childhood
An absent father and trauma characterize Richard Beasley's childhood. Carol Beasley, Beasley’s mother, gave a sad account of Beasley’s childhood. Carol gave birth to Beasley at a very tender age of 16. At that time, Beasley’s father was married to someone else, but his parents got married a year later. His father was never around and provided no financial support to their well-being. Beasley’s parents divorced when he was still 18months old. Carol later remarried to Jim Beasley. Jim was a mean, gambling, alcoholic, and a violent man (State v. Beasley) . He physically abused Carol, her two daughters, and Beasley. Everyone in the house was afraid of him, and they learned to avoid provoking him. One day, Jim whipped using an extension cord for riding his tricycle in their home. Beasley was also sexually abused by two young boys in their neighborhood.
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Impact of Family Influence
The family environment for Richard Breasley was a breeding ground for a troubled and dangerous individual. His mother gave back to him at a very young age; hardly could she take care of him or raise him with morals. Carol’s ability to parent was hindered by the trauma and abuse she had faced in marriage. The absence of a biological was also a colossal blow to Beasley’s growth as he had no one to look up to. His stepfather was a worse parent because he was an utterly reckless man. Breasley grew up in an extremely violent family that had little morals. An environment of violence is likely to lead to traits such as hatred, deceitfulness, and lack of apathy. Breasley starting life without care and love, it was almost expected to have a permanent imprint in his heart and mind.
The early Twenties
Beasley’s descent into crime begun at a very young age. During his late adolescence, Beasley was arrested and convicted of a burglary in Texas. He sentenced to a 4-year prison term for this crime but was later released on parole. Later, Beasley served in federal prison for a weapon-possession charge (State v. Beasley) . The years spent in jail by Beasley hardwired him to get accustomed to crime and its consequences.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Richard Beasleys was diagnosed with various mental disorders from a very early age. He was a hyperactive child and was prescribed Ritalin when he was in fourth grade. He was later diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcissistic-antisocial personally traits, and cerebral dysfunction (State v. Beasley) . These disorders hindered the development of Beasley as an emotionally healthy child resulting in a feeling of isolation and low self-esteem.
Drug Abuse
Drug and substance abuse was the only escape from a harsh reality. Beasley began substance abuse while serving in the U.S Navy (Akron Beacon Journal, n.d.) . His cycle of violence contributed to depression. Depression led to alcohol addiction and the use of opiate drugs. Drugs are a common way of numbing pain. Breasley’s addiction points to an individual in a lot of pain and suffering emotionally.
The Infamous Act
The life of a traumatized child culminates in the death of three men in Ohio. Richard Breasley mentored a teenager into the murder of David Pauley, Ralph Grieger, and Timothy Kern, who were on the lookout for jobs. They lured the men by posting bogus jobs on Craigslist. Breasley's intentions behind these murders were to rob the victim of their personalities and belongings. The brains behind this evil act were Breasley’s. He targeted lone men who were desperate to make their lives better. He even interviewed them to assess who was likely to fight back (State v. Beasley) . This plan came to an end when one of the targets escaped their hands after a couple of misses.
Incarceration
Richard Breasley was sentenced to death by a jury for two murders and one attempted murder. The court has denied Richard Breasley’s several appeals on his death penalty.
In conclusion, what began as a rocky and troublesome childhood led to the death of three men in pursuit of a livelihood. The trauma faced by Richard Beasley caused the development of psychotic traits and a lack of value for life. His inability to connect more with the society and feeling out of place greatly affected Beasley's attitude towards people. The criminal mind of Richard Beasley was in development since childhood.
References
Akron Beacon Journal . (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.beaconjournal.com/article/20130320/NEWS/303208979
State v. Beasley. (n.d.). Retrieved from Casetext: https://casetext.com/case/state-v-beasley-130
