Opinion ID: 2509517
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant's Background

Text: Defendant's mother described defendant as developmentally delayed and hyperactive from a very early age. He was six years old before he could put words together in coherent speech. Defendant's mother was affectionate but overprotective toward him. Defendant's father was ashamed of defendant's retardation and verbally abused defendant; the father physically abused defendant's mother. Janice Foster, an education therapist hired by defendant's parents to help him with learning disabilities, said that at age 16 defendant had the attitude of an eager, friendly eight year old, and intellectually he was like an eight year old. Defendant's mother and his sisters also described defendant's mental retardation. Defendant had few friends. His closest relationship was with his dog Blue, who was given to him when defendant was four months old. Blue died when defendant was 16 or 17 years old, shortly after defendant and his mother moved from the family home and left Blue behind. Defendant's mother said defendant never recovered from Blue's death, for which he felt responsible.