The family stories hold no answer. We wish they did, but they don't. If Aaron Stitt had not crept up to the man on the couch and pulled the trigger, the blond kid with the glasses would be just another kid. His pain and confusion would be no different, but most of us would know nothing about his torment. That's because there's no scarlet letter in real life that tells us these things.
Real life is gray.
Aaron Stitt's case file with Children Services reveals a pattern of visits, often prompted by an ongoing custody battle between his parents. One parent or the other would make an accusation. A caseworker would visit. There might be evidence of alcohol or drug use in the home, but no evidence of direct danger to the boy. The caseworker would leave.