A blog entry by a friend of Katie's states that "Zach" and Katie dated but recently broke up. The friend also states that Katie said her phone was missing and that Zach was "acting crazy". This was on March 6th.
Full blog here:
http://zenandjuice.com/word/2008.../10/katie-wood/
On a side note.....I immediately thought of the other Catherine Wood who shared more than just a similar name with Katherine Wood... she was also murdered by an ex-boyfriend (NYC in 2006).
Thanks, Monika. I've added an update.
Why does this one seem different? An only child born to parents who were told they couldn't conceive-- given a new red "sports" car by his father when he was still in his teens. It seems as if he may have been quite narcissistic and spoiled.
On the other hand, it's pretty unusual to see one picture after another of beloved pets on a murderer's blog. His blog entries speak to education- you know it's not the myspace page of Charlie Wilkinson.
(The links to Katie's myspace entries are blank, btw.)
Yet, given every opportunity and advantage Z. couldn't rise above his most base tendencies. It's sickening.
Here is an Amazon.com profile for him as well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/pro.../
A2QEDMIPUCR400
Here is a comment that is now posted on the ZenandJuice blog:
Oh my god. I am so sorry for your loss. I know Zach, and I can’t believe he did that. I mean I can believe it, but I don’t want to. What a crazy. I went to high school with him, and he stalked my friend two years ago. She broke up with him after a four-year relationship. At first they were still friends, but then he started acting crazy. He broke out her car window because he saw her with another guy when he was following her one night. He broke into her apartment and sat in the dark until she came home. One time he got her to sit in his car to talk about things, and he drove off, wouldn’t let her leave the car, didn’t stop for stop signs or lights, and held a gun to her head, threatening to kill her. She got a restraining order, but it didn’t make any difference. It was awful. And scary.
Detectives showed up at her house yesterday, asking her questions about where Zach might have gone. They said people had told them that he’d been looking for her, but luckily she’d moved several times, changed jobs, and changed her number. I am so sorry your friend lost her life, but I have to admit that I’m glad my friend is okay. What a fucking asshole. I hope he gets life in prison, and I hope many unmentionable horrible things happen to him there.
++++++++++++++++++++
(Is suppose this is referring to the ex girlfriend, Sarah.)
BTW, all of Katherines MySpace links are down now for "routine maintenance".
In his blog bio he say "that art and beauty can be found anywhere - from the curve of her back to the blank gray wall of a jail cell." Hopefully he will be looking at that cell wall for the rest of his life. Something should be done with stalkers early on. Usually they have stalked many others on the way to murder. Laws need to get tough on stalkers and they should be forced into getting help.
Oh good grief. Is Arkansas just sprouting these stalkers out right and left or what? I guess we just hear more about them now, because of the media. I think I will lock my daughters and granddaughter up for safekeeping.
I only get one TV channel right now and it's out of Monroe, LA, so I don't hear too much about what goes on in the northern part of AR. I usually come here when I need to know what is going on!
Marcyniuk's criminal history in Fayetteville includes charges in 2005 of firstdegree false imprisonment, aggravated assault, violation of a protection order, burglary, theft of property and first-degree criminal mischief, Gabbard said.
From this article: http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/63007/
Here is his photobucket account:
http://s24.photobucket.com/album...ms/c26/takatak/
Perhaps a spooky coincidence...
In his 4/10/05 posting (LJ account) Zachariah tells about finding text messages from a "Gabe" on Sarah's cell phone, and he confronts Sarah about who Gabe is.
In her 12/12/07 post on her MySpace, Katie talks about working on some drawings for a comic that her brother and "Gabe" were working on.
Probably not the same Gabe, but it's not THAT common of a name, either, especially in Arkansas, I would think...
Reading his LJ is really interesting and it is easy to see how obsessive he was when it came to girlfriends, especially after the break-ups. I wonder if Katie had any idea about how he had treated Sarah, and the trouble he'd gotten into. Scary stuff.
Jaden, is that a new NWANews.com article or the one I linked in the entry? I decided to not link his photobucket because it wasn't that interesting, but I think I'm glad you put it in there. Thanks.
Read his LJ from 5/14/05 - he talks about being sorry for scaring her (and what he put his other friends through) and that he no longer owned a gun...must be referring to the at-gunpoint ride in the car, and it sounds like he threatened to kill himself (in other posts he talks about how she should have known he never meant any of it, because if he had he wouldn't have told friends, he would have left a suicide note). Sarah is really lucky to be alive! Reading his journal is like watching a slow descent into madness (not that I think he should get off, but I definitely think he is sick and has been for a long time). It is a shame that he got off so easily for harrassing/stalking/threatening Sarah...although who knows if stiffer consequences would have changed the path he was on. Ugh.
Why the hell would "Gabriel" be a weird name for Arkansas? I'm from Arkansas--if a name's in the Bible, or ever worn by a football player, odds are some kid in Arkansas is named after 'em.
ML, you are a sexist piece of sh**. She's dead. Let her rest in peace without your asinine comments
Fiz and everyone else, never feed the trolls. If I don't catch them in good time, just e-mail me and I'll taker care of it. But don't bother interacting with them; they don't care. I've ban-leted ML. He might be back, but it wouldn't be worth his time.
I wonder if this is his picture on Buzznet?
http://takatak.buzznet.com/user/.../photos/recent/
It is, Shelly.
Yes, Steve. Sorry that I posted the same link, I didn't realize it was the same article. :-/ Please remove it if you like. ~Thanks
Katie Wood was my college best friend. This sick mother fucker deserves to and will burn in hell from taking such a precious gift from all of us who loved her.
Is it open season on college coeds?
Nancy, sorry, I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I'm born and bred in the south and I don't hear of many "Gabes," that's all...in fact I've never known one personally in the many cities and states I've live in.
Sarah, my sympathy to you for the loss of your friend.
By the way, he admits at the end of his "six things" post that #3 (the adult film story) is a lie.
Thanks John. I wrote this too early in the morning. I've edited that part out -- it reads better without it anyway.
He was my friend in high school. He watched strange movies and read some really messed up stuff, but other than that he seemed pretty normal. Things sure can change over a few years.
Thoughts and prayers for the family and friends.
Here is an updated story on the case:
http://www.nwaonline.net/
article...31108fzwood.txt
Also, I met him a few years ago, following the issues with his previous ex. I found out about those arrests via google, and asked him about them. Based on lots of things he'd already told me about the relationship, his explanations seemed to line up. I have even slept at his apartment and he was a complete gentleman, offering me his bed and taking the couch himself. We had hardly spoken in over a year, but he randomly began talking to me again maybe a week ago. He seemed to be on the upswing from the breakup, talking very optimistically about the future, and had nothing bad to say about Katie. The last message I received from him was Saturday morning, and I had been out of town until Sunday when I got the message. I just found out this evening that any of this had happened and I'm completely shocked. I guess it goes to show we never really know anyone else. My heart goes out to Katie's friends and family.
They use words I'm not familiar with, like "wasnae" (trying to sound Scottish?) and "tekken." And their tone is a bit foreign, too. Is this how English majors talk nowadays?
Do we know what this guy did for a living? He was 28. Maybe he was one of those weird older guys like Ben Fawley, who hang around university girls and try to live the student life?
OK, I found my answer. I do get a Ben Fawley vibe. Attending college since 1998, but only a junior in art as of this year, and had withdrawn from classes:
Marcyniuk was a junior majoring in art until he withdrew from classes last month, said Steve Voorhies, media relations manager for the university.
"We don't know if he actually attended classes this semester, but he officially left in February," Voorhies said.
Marcyniuk listed graduation from West Fork High School on his MySpace Web page. He listed attendance at the university from 1998 to present.
He actually was a student at UofA until recently, and I believe he worked for the campus parking police thing. Also, 28 and 24 isn't a huge age gap or anything.
No, that's not a big age gap. I think people are wondering why the guy was still an undergrad, hence noting his age.
Yes, that's what I meant. Like Fawley, like Steve Kazmierczak, this fellow seems to have some years unaccounted for. He seems behind for what we'd expect at his age.
And like with Fawley, I think his blogging style and art are a bit immature. More like what you'd expect from a 21-year-old. Although I haven't looked around thoroughly.
I do suspect that colleges nowadays, as they become more accessible, also sometimes act as warehouses for people with mental problems. You can't fire someone from college.
P.S. Other obvious Fawley commonalities: Had an ex he'd gotten in trouble for stalking; big into photography; had a site on DeviantArt.
(From http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/63032/ ) more information and some from Sarah's mother:
This is not the first time Marcyniuk has been sought by police. In May 2005, he was arrested on charges of first-degree false imprisonment, aggravated assault and violation of a protection order. An arrest report stated that he kidnapped an ex-girlfriend who had obtained a protection order against him and drove down Interstate 540 with a gun to his temple. The report stated that he drove the victim to Devil's Den State Park and threatened to commit suicide, but she was able to dissuade him.
Vicki Edwards, the mother of the woman Marcyniuk kidnapped, said police called her daughter Sunday afternoon, when Marcyniuk was still at large, to confirm she was all right. She said the suspect had been seen near the residence from which her daughter had just moved.
"If she hadn't moved Friday, I know he would have found her," Edwards said. "He's a controlling sociopath, and he's dangerous."
She said she thought the latest incident could have been prevented if police had offered some protection to her daughter so she could pursue the past charges against Marcyniuk. Since police didn't, Edwards said, her daughter feared for her life and dropped the issue.
I knew Zach. Met Katie maybe twice. Even played some music with him like maybe a year and a half ago, just goofing around with some friends and laptops and synths and so on.
He sure seemed like a nice guy. But then again, I'm a guy. I'm sure if I were a young woman that he had stalked, I would probably have a different past perception.
This is all so very sad.
I was an instructor of Katie's a couple years back at the UofA. It took her a while to open up, but once she did, man she was funny. We all loved having her in class. So smart and so much potential as a writer. What makes me saddest is that there isn't more about Katie. And, unfortunately, in keeping with the trends of various other examples of youth violence as of late, there's a lot more available on the alleged killers, on "what made them do it", "what makes them tick" rather than focusing on what a great light the world has lost in the dark. And that's a real shame.
Here's something interesting I noticed in the article link posted by Brandy:
"Officers responding to Wood's apartment Sunday morning found a cellular phone in her purse outside the apartment, and called Wood's mother, who asked police to check on her daughter, according to the arrest affidavit."
But in the blog by her friend, she had complained that her cell phone was missing and she thought Zach had taken it. I wonder if he snuck the cell phone back into her purse while he was there?
Though I suppose it's also possible she just got a new cell phone, or found it in her couch cushions or something. I just thought it was interesting since the cell phone seemed to be a point of contention.
I looked at all the photos in his photobucket, and I found some of them very interesting. Eerily, he has two of the same "free internet images" that are in MY photobucket!
Also spooky: he goes to the same zoo my kids and I do!
This guy does not remind me of Fawley at all, but obviously anyone who has been in THAT much trouble for his obsessive tendencies should have been forced into some kind of treatment.
If my son kidnapped a former girlfriend at gunpoint, etc., I would have his ass court-ordered to the nearest psychiatric facilitly so fast his head would spin like Linda Blair's!
Had that happened in this case, Katie might still be here and Takatak might have done something positive with himself instead of spending the rest of his life in jail. Surely.
Also, I think the "Gabe" connection might be worth looking into.
Kevin and the other friends of Katie's and her family, my heart and thoughts go out to all of you.
Kevin, it would be nice to learn more about Katie. I've enjoyed the posts from her friends and colleagues at this blog because it does give us a glimpse of the real person behind the story.
And, yes, we do focus on the criminal because it would be incredible to find some common factor amongst these misfit cretins so that we may recognize if there are any in our own lives. I, for once would like an answer to the question, why? I would like to know what makes these killers "tick". How they let the taking of someones life even enter into their mind, let alone act upon those thoughts.
And to Peter, or others who may have been friends with Zachariah, I am so sorry that you are going through this time as well. I know it must have been as much a shock to you as it was to Katie's friends and family.
Melly, I think he played a lot of games with both these girls. Notice that he writes about Sarah's cat and dog going missing, at different times after their break-up. Both times Sarah expected that he had done something with her pets - he denied it both times, but miraculously he was the one who found both pets and alerted Sarah through his LJ. I think he routinely stole things from both of them so he could force communication during times when they had tried to make it clear that they didn't want any more contact from him...in Sarah's case, through a protective order (and it sounds like Katie had considered taking one out as well, but decided she could handle it on her own).
Katie was in several painting classes with me and was very talented. We would chit chat nearly every time we ran into each other in the art building and anywhere else. We actually were partners in one of our painting classes and did portraits of each other. Unfortunately, I don't have my portrait of her anymore...
All I keep thinking of is how unfair this was for her. She was such a hard worker and a good student and what was it for? nothing? some ex boyfriend gets to have the say so on when her life should end???
its just not fair.... she was so sweet.
FAYETTEVILLE : Suspect claims amnesia in death of UA student
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/219383/
Well isn't the amnesia all too convenient? I thought he placed her in the bathroom and locked the door to the bathroom as well as the outer door? That doesn't seem like the actions of one who 'blacked out'. It sounds quite deliberate to me.
And, taking his dog to the parent's house and fleeing. That doesn't sound like someone that didn't know what he was doing, either.
I'm thinking premeditated.
Again, there's all this focus on this guy and not enough on Katie. Sorry that bugs me so much. I didn't know Katie all that well, only what we saw of her in class and outside the building after class. At least the papers were able to contact some folks who knew her and get a little of her out there. There's so much blood in the violence of the act, the psychology behind it, the media spoons it out and we eat it up like the good consumers we are. I've had it with this focus on the bad guy coverage.
Kevin, I'm with you. While I am curious about how deep the psychosis goes with Zachariah, I'm done giving him attention.
I don't know if any of you caught tonight's KFSM report ( 03/11/08 ) but I am so mad at their "expert" - that smug-faced woman saying that this "could have been prevented" because perhaps people didn't pick up on the red flags or push Katie into getting a restraining order, effectively putting all the blame on Katie's friends, and also Katie herself. I have had it with victim blaming. I was wondering how long it would be until some douchebag victim-blamer would crawl out of the woodwork.
I didn't know Katie for terribly long, but I thought she was just awesome. I feel ripped off that there will never be the opportunity for us to be better friends. It feels selfish to say that, and then I realise, you know what's selfish? Killing your ex-girlfriend because you have a tenuous grasp on reality. There's selfish for you.
Exactly, Samantha. And y'know what? Given enough time, ANYTHING could be prevented. I didn't get to see that news report, but I can imagine how it went. They say hindsight's 20/20. Once something happens, of course it's easy for the "psychological pundits" to say "oh, well obviously it was this and this and this..." We can analyze and analyze and comment all day long once all the details are in.
Do I wish it had been prevented? Yes, I definitely do. But I also think this sensationalizing of the criminal is ridiculous. I mean, everything from what he posted on his myspace made the papers. Did you read the bold-faced tag quote in the Morning News the other day from one of her neighbors? It basically went "Yeah, um, she lived here, but I didn't really ever talk to her." BRILLIANT!!! My kudos go out to the 'News, for bold-typing and setting aside a quote by neighbor who knows nothing! Now THAT is some fancy reporting! My hats off to the news folks.
I sound like I'm ranting. But come on. I said this after Virginia Tech, I said this after Louisiana. Stop talking about the freakin' criminals! Stop putting their names and faces in the paper. Sure, the folks who need to can do all the analyzing and research and crime-solving necessary, then once all that is done, they can report on it. But this "same-day, inside-the-mind-of-a-killer-look-what-we-found-on-
his-blog" crap is just retarded. Investigation used to be investigation, which means it took time to do it right. Investigative reporting should be investigation, not speculation. Granted, Katie's situation isn't a school shooting or anything, but you get my point.
Katie was, and always will be, one of my dearest friends. For those of us that were priviledged enough to know her, we were truly blessed. I still can't believe that she's gone. She was an amazing person both inside and out. I hate what has happened to her. For those of you that want a glimpse inside of her life, check out thetraveleronline.com for a recent article.
Thank you for the link, Dalal. Katie indeed seemed like a remarkable woman and friend.
It also seems to me she had learned at her young age what life is really about, and my personal belief of the reason we are all here: To learn to love and to be loved.
You must feel very lucky to have known her and to call her your friend. I am sorry she was taken from this world way too soon.
I'm sure that some of the posters didn't *actually* mean to insinuate that someone in school or returning to school after turning any age over 20 is to be watched in case of mental illness.
Think before you post, people.
I'm sure that some of the posters didn't *actually* mean to insinuate that someone in school or returning to school after turning any age over 20 is to be watched in case of mental illness.
Think before you post, people.
Dan, are you referring to my post? I have given the issue careful, extensive thought. And of course that wasn't my insinuation.
The issue isn't merely that these guys are older students. The issue is that they're a lot older than they should be for what they have achieved in life. And their lifestyles seem too young for their age. It's not like they were busy raising families, or spent a few years in the military to get college money. As I said, they have some missing years.
With Steve Kazmierczak, the explanation was that he'd been institutionalized. Fawley also had a lot of previous mental problems. With Fawley in particular (he was 38!) it appeared the student lifestyle was a way for him to conceal his stuntedness.
Society expects less of young people. Since students tend to be young, they may sometimes evade scrutiny no matter what their age. My theory is that student status allows some very dysfunctional types to pass under the radar. Studenthood may also be a default occupation for troubled people.
When someone has spent 10 years majoring in art and hasn't graduated, and doesn't appear to have done anything else significant with his time, then I'd say that's a red flag.
Again, there's all this focus on this guy and not enough on Katie. Sorry that bugs me so much. . ... There's so much blood in the violence of the act, the psychology behind it, the media spoons it out and we eat it up like the good consumers we are. I've had it with this focus on the bad guy coverage.
And, yes, we do focus on the criminal because it would be incredible to find some common factor amongst these misfit cretins so that we may recognize if there are any in our own lives. I, for once would like an answer to the question, why? I would like to know what makes these killers "tick".
This is the really awkward thing about the Internet. On this blog in particular, it's increasingly common for friends and family of the victim and the perpetrator to weigh in. So I'm not sure what tone to take, because I don't want to add to anyone's grief.
I come to this site because it has crime stories. My interest in crime stories centers on the person who did the bad thing. I enjoy picking them apart and trying to figure out why they did the bad thing. They're fair game for the most intense criticism. I am much more interested in the story when the perp reminds me of someone I'd dislike, or like, in real life.
On the other hand, I feel it's not my right or business to discuss victims in any depth. They didn't do anything to deserve scrutiny. It would be hypocritical of me to eulogize them, because I didn't know them. And I don't have to be convinced the victim was wonderful in order to think her murder is a terrible thing.
When someone has spent 10 years majoring in art and hasn't graduated, and doesn't appear to have done anything else significant with his time, then I'd say that's a red flag.
P.S.: The most valid counterpoint to this would probably be that most mentally ill or dysfunctional people aren't killers.
Holly,
Yes, I was indeed referring to your post. The leap from "spending a lot of time in school" or "being an older student" to mental problems is ludicrous.
Your ideas of what someone "should achieve" in life are just that: your ideas. They don't and shouldn't be expected to apply to anyone else in this world. Just because our society at large tries to keep up the image that everyone fits a specific apple pie mom and pop four years in high school directly followed by four years in college mold, it simply isn't true, and frankly it's a little silly to use it as a measuring stick of someone's "normalcy".
You're trying to make a logical connection that just doesn't exist. And for someone that says that they enjoy picking criminals apart, you don't seem to be entirely qualified, so perhaps you could just read, and not post hair-brained theories. Maybe you could take some Psych courses. You know, unless you're too old to be in school without getting arrested for being strange.
Well, like I said, I knew Zach. Not well. But socially. So I think I have something to add to all this.
I really had no idea about his shall we say 'stalkerish' tendencies with women. That's no surprise, since our interactions were either about music technology or books (he worked in a bookstore, so do I).
But I'm telling you, from experience, just because someone is a non-traditional student that doesn't mean that they're mentally ill. Also, there was nothing obviously 'wrong' with the guy. No red flags, as a casual acquaintance. He behaved normally when I hung out with him (granted, this was almost 2 years ago). He was not some loner, maladjusted cretin, as it was put. I think some people are trying to draw connections where there are none. As for missing years for Zach, I know he spent some years working for college, taking just a few classes a semester. College can be expensive, especially if you're paying for it yourself and you don't want to go too far into debt.
How he behaved in a private setting is an entirely different matter, I suppose. Which may not speak to 'mental illness' so much as it speaks to the ability of some people to hide aspects of themselves from others.
My thought is that he snapped, that something in him broke.
Dan, while your post to Holly could be a little harsh, lol, i agree with you. Everyone's an armchair flatfoot nowadays. We can blame some of that on the media coverage's sensationalism, also.
And I COMPLETELY agree that her theories of what SHOULD be accomplished by 28 are completely her own. In no way here am I defending this bastard and what he did (the local news headlines this morning said Katie died of stab wounds - amnesia indeed). I'm just putting in my two cents on the Dan-Holly debate.
I was in college for 11 years between my bachelor's and your masters. And they were both in fine arts fields. So I take a little slight at her assumption that ART is something that should EASILY be completed.
Artists have an even harder time getting done in a four-year track (even though the average is now what, like 5 years for a bachelor's? 5 1/2?). Artists, in addition to the time spent on their core classes, have the vasy majority of their work on their own time, creating their art. I had to drop down to just a few hours of credit some semesters because I was so busy doing my art after class and in the evening. Artists work harder than most folks give us credit for.
And let's not forget the most important thing here: Katie. She was an artist, too. I would guess, if she were here, she'd be happy to participate in the "things an artist should accomplish in a certain time frame" debate. She was a great artist, with so much potential. I still have some of the scripts she wrote for my class and, if I can get it together, am going to try to organize a reading of her work in memoriam, with proceeds going to the Katie Wood Memorial Fund. I think that would be a good way to honor the artist I saw in her.
I have tried to show compassion for the victim in this crime at this site. But, I ask that those of you complaining about the comments in this thread take a look at the name of this domain.
True Crime Weblog
It doesn't say "victim advocacy". This is a site that a lot of us frequent because we are intrigued by crime and the criminal.
If you all are looking for some "feel good" place to memorialize Katie, this is probably not the best place to do it.
By the way, I agree with Holly in her assessment of a 28 year old man still in college, without a degree. In posts of his that I have read, he said he wanted to be a commercial graphic artist. This does not require 10 years of college art study to accomplish. Either you have an eye and talent for commercial art or you don't. And, if you 20-somethings want to tell me I'm wrong about that...forget it. I work in the industry and have for longer than you have been breathing.
There has been a long tradition for the perpetual student on college campuses. Dan and Kevin both make excellent points, and frankly, looking back from 46, 28 seems not astoundingly old to be in college,lol. Particularly as an art student. It seems that some folks are trying to draw conclusions where there are none to be drawn.
What was really rather frightening about Zachariah M. is how well he fit into that milieux. He seems like the kind of person we would have hung with in college. The fact that he is a sociopath is apparently something he kept very well-hidden. Rather like Ted Bundy in his ordinariness, and that is what is so damn scary.
Not the fact that he was still in college at 28.
no one on here seems to have known zach well. if you had you would have known he was sullen, moody, obsessive and had been that way since high school.
Yeah. Can't say that I knew Zach well (isn't that rather apparent now, painfully so). But the scariest thing about all this is his apparent ordinariness and normalcy. Sullen and moody? Sure, sometimes. I guess. I observed that. But you could say that about an awful lot of people who don't end up killing ex-girlfriends. I never in a million years would have pegged him as someone who would be a murderer, at least, not from the admittedly casual exposure I had to the guy.
As for Katie, there's not enough words in the world for the injustice and horribleness of everything she endured. Whatever promise and bright hope she had, it's so sad that it's gone now.
Yeah. Words fail me. I still can't quite wrap my brain around it, other than to say that trying to peg Zach into some type of profile is probably stupid and meaningless.
I never in a million years would have pegged him as someone who would be a murderer, at least, not from the admittedly casual exposure I had to the guy.
Peter, not to make light of your feelings, but I'll bet you've never casually known anyone you *would* peg as being a murderer. I sure haven't. That's one thing we can learn from this blog -- murderers don't run around with their plans on a T-shirt.
That doesn't mean there aren't characteristics they share. The idea fascinates many people who read this blog. I don't see any shame in being an "armchair flatfoot," as Kevin put it.
Artists have an even harder time getting done in a four-year track ... Artists, in addition to the time spent on their core classes, have the vasy majority of their work on their own time, creating their art. I had to drop down to just a few hours of credit some semesters because I was so busy doing my art after class and in the evening. Artists work harder than most folks give us credit for.
But Kevin, come on ... do you think this is what was going on with our culprit? Busting his rear to bring mindbending new concepts to fruition? I suspect not.
I was a liberal arts major myself (journalism). There are many talented, hard-working students in those disciplines. However, I bet you'll agree with me that it's also pretty hard to flunk out of those programs. You certainly can be diligent and talented, but it's by no means needed to pass the classes. 
If one is inclined to brood and stalk and plot, he can probably find the time more easily than he could in, say, engineering. I think of the Virginia Tech shooter (creative writing) as an example.
P.S.: In movies, books and TV, fictional killers tend to be charming, highly competent and successful. In real life, usually not. Neither are they complete misfits hated by all. They usually have some friends, but a history of substantial dysfunction or troubles which they often kept quiet. And usually their life was already taking a bad turn when they did the bad thing.* But pop culture often tries to make them fit the fiction, portraying them as more successful or popular or talented than the facts really bear out.
So it's interesting for me to look at the big picture of what was wrong in their life. Assessing their achievements and behavior (including their maturity) is part of that. I don't think we can adequately judge those things without factoring in the culprit's age. This shouldn't bother non-killer readers. If you disagree with my ideas, it's more productive to debate why rather than attacking me personally.
*This is not purported to be an expert opinion, just that of a laywoman who reads this blog.
well apparently i'm in the wrong place. it's too bad i'm not more interested in the sociopath that committed this heinous crime than i am interested in the light he snuffed out. i'll go ahead and take my opinions and my long college education somewhere else. hope you guys find something productive to do today.
Kevin thank you for telling us about Katie. Please don't take someone's theory personally. Some people spend their entire lives taking classes, there is nothing wrong with learning. The truth is the killer had a problem with rejection and relationships, these people come from all walks of life. I'm sorry your friend was taken.
I don't even know what to say....you people can speculate what happened over and over....but you weren't there....so thank your god that you don't have to be in my shoes or in the shoes of her family or even her
Holly, I have spent more years in school than I care to count, and I still don't have my degree. Why? I have raised a family, am raising my grandchild, and I have a husband who supports me wanting to go to college, when time and life permit. You insulted a lot of non-traditional students with your comments. I have been on my own since 15 (graduated with my class and had a job!)know what life is about and enjoy learning. And guess what? I haven't killed anyone!
Peter, I am sorry about your friend.
I am sorry Steve for my rant, I'll go to my corner now!
Someone here quoted my comment on the zenandjuice blog. I'm friends with Sarah and know Zach as well. I watched his madness unfold in 2005, and I can't believe he went so far this time. I knew he was dangerous, but I didn't know just how dangerous.
Zach did fine right after he and Sarah broke up. They had agreed to just be friends, and it was all fine-- until she started seeing other people. That's when he snapped. It sounds as if that's the same thing that happened after he and Katie's breakup. He was okay with it until he had to share her with other people.
It's interesting that people talk about how nice and fun and cool Zach is. What do they expect, someone who goes around talking about killing people, someone who reeks of madness? I guess I'm just a lot less surprised because I've seen both sides of his personality, and I've seen him switch into a lying, obsessive, controlling guy with no rational thought process.
I see now, too, that the police just have no way of accurately gauging a person's psychological state. They let him get away with a lot of things in 2005, and probably didn't have a second thought about it. If only they'd been able (and/or had the resources) to determine just how dangerous he was, to realize that, if put in a similar situation in the future, he might do something even worse in his desperation. That said, Zach is sick and has some major psychological problems. Objectively speaking, I tend to favor rehabilitation for people who disobey the law. In this situation, though, where it's so close to home, where he's displayed this behavior several times before, where people I know are hurt, I kind of just want him to rot in a cell. That may not be the right way to feel, but I do.
Tezi, I am proud that you still strive for an education, but it sounds like in the meanwhile you have lead a very full and productive life. You have had some great accomplishments in that time. Did Zach? I think that is the main point that was being made.
I can understand people who were, or I should say are, affected by this personally may be taking what is posted here a little too close to heart.
Kevin, my comment was not made in hopes that any commenter would go away! We do appreciate hearing about the victim. It helps us to place the murderer in the bad light he obviously deserves. I was merely pointing out what this blog deals with (True Crime)and for no one to be surprised or shocked at the opinions and comments here. I'm sure the Blog owner appreciates your comments, and would ask you to continue to post here. Simply stated, it is not a blog relating to memorials but to the crime and criminal. However, I believe unlike many sites, the posters here genuinely care for those affected and their healing through the madness they have had to deal with.
Sarah, I do thank God that I have not had to walk in your shoes through this ordeal. But some here have been through similar or worse circumstances in dealing with mental health issues in their friends or family, or the murder of a loved one. Although this is certainly a horrific thing for you to have to endure, please don't be so quick to judge those posting for they too may have walked in their shoes down a very similar path. I am truly sorry that this situation has come to pass, and thank God that you were able to survive intact. I wish you continued healing in your dealings.
Halfdeserted, a lot of us felt that rehabilitation could be a viable answer in similar circumstances. I think most of us here have a different perspective now. Perhaps we are jaded by our knowledge, our experiences and our thirst to learn more about the perpetrators of these awful crimes. And jaded too, because we are so aware of the criminals and their crimes when they take the precious life of someone else.
To all, I am sorry if I said anything that offended any of those directly or indirectly involved with Katie or Zach. I only have positive, healing and healthy thoughts towards all of you.
I understand that people are going through and have been through worse...I'm just saying that all of these things you are bringing to everyones attention and discussing I have tried so hard to forget. and it has not been and easy task....As far as this situation goes I knew zach....better than anyone...aparently even better than she did. If you all have to know so much or profile him and so on then you must know the reasons he got back into school...to win me back...prove to me he was trying....blah blah...he was affectionate and caring but emotionally abusive and controlling....No one will ever know why he did this really the only one that knows is zach. he is very intelligent and very convincing...its all a pattern for him....the bar and cell phone theft the stalking the conversations where he agrees to leave you alone...its a pattern. I apologize for sounding snippy but this whole thing is frustrating. Zach was obsessive and continued that way for years until he moved on in love....and it sounds aweful but I don't have to look over my shoulder any longer.....
I have been on my own since 15 (graduated with my class and had a job!)know what life is about and enjoy learning. And guess what? I haven't killed anyone
Tezi, I am proud that you still strive for an education, but it sounds like in the meanwhile you have lead a very full and productive life. You have had some great accomplishments in that time. Did Zach? I think that is the main point that was being made.
Jadensmokes, thanks for helping explain my point. Tezi, read my first comments -- I specifically noted the difference between older students who have been doing other productive things with their lives, and those, like Zach, who appear to merely be trailing the pack.
All of us probably have something in common with every murderer. It's unproductive to take offense every time a commonality is mentioned. If we take that attitude, we'll never get any further than wringing our hands every time something bad happens. It's more productive to discuss why someone else was also obsessed with Insane Clown Posse (for example) but still managed to be peaceful and loving. What was the difference?
Heck, there are plenty of people who take rejection very poorly and still don't kill people. What's the difference with this guy? I'm not inclined to believe it's just random.
It was brave and gracious of Sarah to give us her input. If she or anyone else with inside knowledge feels comfortable telling us, I think there could be valuable insight gained from hearing why either of these women left Marcyniuk in the first place. And I think it's very interesting that he thought reenrolling in college was going to win Sarah back. I'm guessing his school enrollment status wasn't his real problem, not by a long shot.
Jaden, thank you! Now, I feel like an idiot for my rant. Right now, there isn't time for school, I have an eight-month-old granddaughter who takes up all of my time. My daughter (her mother) recently lost her best friend, as you know, so I am trying to help my daughter out with the baby any way I can.
Sarah, I am so sorry. This has got to be terrible for you. I knew someone who shared the same characteristics as Zach. He scared me to death. Please take care of yourself.
Sarah, there really is no need to apologize! I am afraid "snippy" wouldn't come close to describing me had I been in your shoes! I'm glad you can now move beyond living life whilst glimpsing over your shoulder. I have an ex husband who could have very easily been Zach, and who I think that I see in this town I live every once in a while and it scares me to death! I only wish he were in prison or dead...maybe one day he will be. I am glad you are safe now, and I know from the few snippets you have written that you must be a strong individual and one who knows herself very well. All good attributes in getting you on the road to healing and putting it behind you. Thank you so much for your candid sharing of the personal events in your life to help us to understand the situation better. I really do appreciate it. Hopefully in writing about it that maybe a cleansing of sorts comes about for you. I wish you all the best in life, Sarah.
You're welcome Holly. I knew that Tezi had been through a difficult time herself, although unrelated to this thread. It's so darn hard to understand peoples feelings from the written word sometimes. And, I think we are all guilty of seeing things from our own life perspectives that sometimes we read things the wrong way. I also think sometimes the readers here become desensitized because we expose ourselves so much to crimes in very deep detail. Or it may be that we have a particularly hot button on some issues. None of this is bad, it's just the way I think it is!
Tezi, no need for feeling badly! See the paragraph above. We all do have one thing in common: That is to see those that have committed crimes are duly punished. And, in doing so, I think it has bred a unique group of people that read and post here. On a whole, I think there are some of the most compassionate, caring people that come to read Steve's latest.
Hah! if I had a choice to take care of an 8 month old grandbaby or go to school, I would be right were you are, cooing at that baby girl! I wish blessings for you and your girls!
Thanks Jaden.
Holly, I am sorry for my harshness. I didn't take the time to read what you wrote carefully.
And Jaden, thank you for understanding about how hard things have been lately for me. I really appreciate your kind words.
I am just tired of people being murdered, raped, and victimized. I want to make a difference, somehow, someway!
The Gabe talked about in Katie's comments about a comic book is my husband. So I know for a fact that these are not the same person. My husband is friends with her brother. I am very glad to see all the support for her family. I also hope that something can be done to stop future stalkers.
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