Ronald Joseph De Feo an Example of the Topic Personal Essays by

Ronald Joseph De Feo I. Name of Profile Subject This case study involves Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr., now 57 years old but who was only 23 when he committed the heinous crime that kept him behind bars at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York up to the present. His numerous appeals for parole were all rejected. Need essay sample on "Ronald Joseph De Feo" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed II. Criminal Activity and Court Charges DeFeo Jr. was convicted of 6 counts of second degree murder in December 4, 1975 at Suffolk County, New York and sentenced to six 25-year terms equivalent to 150 years in prison or essentially life imprisonment (Lowe, 2008). In the early morning of November 13, the previous year in Amityville, New York, he used his .35 caliber Marlin rifle to massacre his father, mother, two sisters and two brothers while they were all sound asleep, killing them instantly (Lowe, 2008). The youngest victim was only 7 years old. He tried to conceal the evidence of his premeditated crime and weaved a story pointing to the Mafia as the ones responsible. Later, he admitted to the crime but fabricated different stories as to why he did it i.e. because of self defense and later because he was suffering from a severe psychological disorder. He also accused the police of forcing him to wrongfully confess to the crime. III. Case History Family Background Ronald DeFeo Jr. came from a well-off family. His mothers family owned a shop dealing Buick cars where his father worked diligently until he began to earn more than enough for his family to move to Amityville, Long Island, New York where they bought heir dream house (Crime Library, 2007). Finances not being a problem, he also had a boathouse built along the Amityville River. However, Ronald DeFeo Sr. had a violent temper and often displayed episodes of rage. He and his wife, Ronnie Jr.s mother, often had intense fights and because Ronnie Jr. was the eldest child, he most often became the subject of his fathers violent outbursts or abuse as well (Crime Library, 2007). DeFeo Sr. expected from his young son the same tough and authoritative character as himself. Ronnie Jr., as a child, was fat and brooding and was often the target of bullying in school. His father often berated him to stand up for himself against the bullies but was never allowed to speak for himself in front of his father or to disobey (Crime Library, 2007). As Ronnie Jr. grew older and gained physical strength, he displayed the same temper as his father and fought back until their quarrels increased in intensity as to involve violent physical confrontations. Students Usually Tell EssayLab professionals: Who wants to write assignment for me? Essay writers suggest: Find Wonderful Papers For Sale Here Eventually disturbed at his sons behavior, DeFeo Sr. brought him to a psychiatrist but Ronnie Jr. was unresponsive to treatment. In an effort to placate him, DeFeo Sr. gave Ronnie Jr. everything that he wanted a speedboat, lots of money and a car among others. Later, Ronnie Jr. was designated a petty job at his fathers car dealership where he received a salary whether or not he performed a task or not. Mental Defects or Disorders DeFeo Jr. displayed a lot of anti-social behavior. While working in the family owned shop, Ronnie Jr. was once sent on an errand to deposit some money and checks at the bank. Together with his friend, he took the money and checks but made it appear that both of them were victims of a hold-up. He also engaged in substance abuse involving alcohol, heroin and LSD and was kicked out of high school. Once, on a hunting trip with friends, he pointed his gun at one of his friends which terrorized the person he had known for a long time. He also did the same to his father, going to the extent of pulling the trigger. Were it not for a jam in the loaded gun, he would have killed his father at that very instant. During his trial psychologists presented different diagnoses of his behavior. The defense psychologist witness confirmed that he was delusional, neurotic and psychotic and so could not take full responsibility for his crime (Crime Library, 2007). His lack of remorse and his being pleased at the deaths of his family members was the evidence of his disorder. The prosecution psychologist witness stated that he had an antisocial personality disorder instead and so was aware of what was right and wrong and the results of his actions but was primarily motivated by self centeredness (Crime Library, 2007). His cleaning up the crime scene in order to remove evidence that would implicate him pointed to this mental defect. Case Facts Overview The prosecutor who effected the conviction was Assistant District Attorney Gerry Sullivan of Suffolk County, New York while Ronald Joseph DeFeo Jr. had the renowned lawyer William Weber as his counsel. The defense tried to plead innocence by reason of insanity with Dr. Daniel Schwartz, a psychologist famous for pronouncing not a few killers as insane, as expert witness (Newsday.com, 2008). However, DeFeos own statements explicitly provided a clear motive for cleaning up the crime scene and disposing of the evidence that connected him to the act (Newsday.com, 2008). By stating that he did not want to leave clues for the police that would implicate him, Ronnie DeFeo Jr. showed that his behavior was not irrational but was in fact acted out with precise motives. The jury unanimously found him guilty of all counts. Weber, DeFeo Jr.s former lawyer, wanted a retrial this time based on the argument that DeFeo Jr. was possessed by demons, i.e. satanic voices in his head ordered him to kill. Weber together with a friend, George Lutz, conspired to create what is known as the Amityville Horror in order to bolster DeFeo Jr.s supposed demon possession which would support his appeal for innocence due to insanity (1000misspenthours.com, 2008). This would also relieve the Lutzs of the mortgage that they realized they could not afford. Lutz created a supernatural haunting nightmare that he and his wife supposedly went through in the 28 days they stayed in the former Amityville residence of the DeFeos. Various ghost and poltergeist forms are only some of the elements found in the Lutzs narration (Morello, 2008). This created such a public sensation that many books were soon written about it and movies were made based on the story. This has influenced the public to believe that DeFeo Jr. indeed committed the crime because he was possessed. Meanwhile, the retrial based on a demonic possession defense never materialized as the courts did not buy the theory (Morello, 2008). IV. Theories An explanation of Ronald DeFeo Jr.s actions can be derived from the strain theory as a sociological theory on crime causation. Because of the abusive and violent behavior of his father, his fathers domination and authority figure in his life and unsatisfied with the amount of money his father gave him, he experienced so much stress that he sought to eliminate the limitations and causes of this through murder. Another explanation is provided by another sociological theory the social learning theory. As a child, DeFeo Jr. learned violence and deception from his father who is thought to have ties with the mob. DeFeo Sr. also once burned their boathouse down in order to collect insurance. His socialization in such behaviors led him to adopt them as his own. Finally, the psychological theory known as motivational theory states that people may behave like children who, by nature, are self-centered and selfish, perennially searching for gratification but not pain and so are antisocial (Jrank.org, 2008). Ronald deFeo Jr.s previous behavior before he committed the crime attest to his penchant of petty stealing, robbing his familys business and of indulging in his vices. The motive of eliminating his family in order to claim his parents life insurance for himself, as initially posed by the prosecution in his case, can not be discounted as a possibility. List of References Crime Library (2007). The Real Amityville Horror. JRank.org (2008). Theories of Crime Causation. Lowe, E. (2008). The Horrors in Amityville. Morello, M. (2008). Still Bleeding After All These Years: The Amityville Redux.

fox hunting essays

fox hunting essays Fox hunting and the issues surrounding it is a very important topic for the whole of Great Britain especially at this precise moment in time as the British government are discussing weather or not to ban this controversial sport. Within this essay I shall be discussing the factors and opinions and views of people opposing and supporting a ban in hunting with hounds in the British countryside. Everybody in the country has an opinion weather fox hunting should be banned or not and I shall be asking a range of people living in my area what their views are and including them in this essay. Firstly I shall be looking into the arguments that are against the use of hounds to hunt foxes and that are supporting the ban in this sport. The main argument that a person would put across who was in favor of a ban would be the cruelty to the fox that is being hunted. Personally the thought of a fox being ripped apart by a pack of blood thirsty hounds distresses me and a large proportion of this country. According to the RSPCA which I feel is a rather bias source hunting foxes using hounds is more damaging to the fox than conventional hunting methods. For example shooting or poisoning the fox to cut down on fox numbers. The fox goes through immense stress as it is found to be killed by the hounds. People who are for fox hunting say that they harm farm animals and crops. But according to the RSPCA the fox is a rather harmless animal and the animals that it does kill on the farm are relatively weak animals and therefore are not much good to the farmer because the fox do esnt want to waste energy chasing lambs and healthy animals as they only account for 1% of lamb deaths on farms. Another argument would be that foxes are very good pest killers such as mice and other rodents which tend to destroy crops on farms. They are also very good at cleaning after humans by eating human rubbish so in a way they clean up t...

Case Study of Regulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case Study of Regulation - Essay Example For instance, the roll out of the new generation broadband would influence internet service delivery and telecommunication services. The need to create fair play in the sector constitutes the discussion in this paper. Telecommunication sector contributes to the economic growth through various aspects such as creating jobs, enhancing communication, which influence the consumption of other products in the market. Providers in the telecommunication industry are keen about the role they play in the economy. Market without regulation would promote exploitation of parties concerned (Borrus, 2003:69). Providers in the telecommunication industry offer service to players at some fees regulated by existing policies. However, new generation broadband technology is a new application in the market, which requires policies that would protect various interests. The key players in the sector are the consumer, the provider and intermediary players. For instance, determination of prices in the market depends on regulations. Analysts in the sector realised that rolling out broadband technology in the market would lead to international coverage (Pietrunti, 2008:12). Broadband service consumers have demonstrated diff erent needs depending on service type. For instance, television service providers and internet clients would consume different quantity of the product (Hardy, 2008:123). Urban and rural areas are set to acquire the services yet this would at different speeds. Analysts have observed that new generation broadband would change the pre existing aspects in the market (Hardy, 2008:65). For instance, the broadband technology contrasts the existing technology because it would channel copper loops to cabinets in the streets as well as ending up in various homes. The issue about regulation comes in when factors influencing modality of delivery crops. First, the opportunity has a set a ground for new players in the telecommunication sector to venture into