Theater gunman’s writings alternate between ramblings, plans

The Associated Press
The Associated Press

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Colorado theater shooting gunman James Holmes’ notebook full of scrawled writings and stick-figure drawings was made public Wednesday, a day after it was introduced as evidence in his trial.

The writings in the 56-page brown, spiral school notebook alternate between sometimes incoherent ramblings and Holmes’ methodical plans to attack the movie theater and maximize the number of people killed.

It provides the most comprehensive look yet into what Holmes described as his “broken” mind.

Prosecutors, however, are attempting to use its planning entries to undermine Holmes’ claim that he was legally insane at the time of the 2012 attack, which killed 12 and injured 70 others.

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KEY EVIDENCE

It’s unclear when Holmes wrote the entries. He mailed the notebook to a University of Colorado psychiatrist who treated him just before the July 20, 2012, shooting at a Batman movie premiere.

Officers found it unopened in a campus mail room July 23, after one of Holmes’ attorneys called police looking for it. The notebook had $400 worth of burnt $20 bills wedged in its pages.

A judge gave all 24 jurors copies of the writings this week.

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GOOD AND EVIL

The notebook opens with drawings of stick figures, one standing, the rest presumably dead, and a series of equations that appear to try to evaluate whether a “murderer” gains value by killing people.

“Can a person have both no value AND be ultimately good AND/OR ultimately evil?” Holmes writes. “Unknown.”

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‘BROKEN’ MIND

Holmes details various mental issues, diagnosing himself as suffering from schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder, psychosis and several other illnesses.

He writes that he goes catatonic for up to five hours in the middle of the day, pulls his hair, feels isolated and obsesses about various parts of his body.

“The real me is fighting the biological me,” Holmes writes.

He details an obsession with mass killing: “And, finally, the last escape, mass murder at the movies. Obsession onset 10 years ago. So, anyways, that’s my mind. It’s broken. I tried to fix it.”

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WHY?

One section is entitled “Crazy Thoughts.” Holmes jots down notes about the Garden of Eden, the myths of Prometheus and Faust and various, almost nonsensical essays on philosophical issues.

This section ends with the word, “Why?” scribbled hundreds of times over eight pages in ever-larger writing.

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‘HATRED OF MANKIND’

Over three pages under the heading, “The Shrinks,” Holmes lists the names of psychiatrists or doctors he has visited and speaks of medication prescribed.

He writes: “Prevent building false sense of rapport. Speak truthfully and deflect incriminating questions. Oddly they don’t pursue or delve farther (sic) into harmful omissions.”

He concludes with: “No consequence, no fear, alone, isolated, no work for distractions, no reason to seek self actualization. Embrace the hatred, a dark knight rises.”

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CHOOSING MASS MURDER

Holmes lists various possible methods of violence, from attacking an airport to serial killing.

He diagrams and ranks by stars the individual theaters at the Aurora Cineplex for attack purposes, using sight lines, the number of exits and audience capacities.

“Can lock double doors, inflicting mass casualties,” reads one entry. “Maximum casualties, easily performed w/ firearms although primitive in nature. No fear of consequences, being caught 99% certain.”

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‘CASE THE PLACE’

In a section titled “Case the Place,” Holmes writes: “Targets random. The cruel twists of fate are unkind to the misfortunate.”

Holmes diagrammed various theaters at the Aurora complex, marking exit doors, evaluating his own visibility, even locating the best parking spots.

He listed pros and cons for attacks on each theater.

He also drew a raw map of the theater complex and a nearby National Guard facility and police station and wrote: “ETA Response (about) 3 mins.”

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