We Are All Responsible for this Parricide
Monday, December 9, 2024
The investigation into the killings of a father and a grandmother by a 14-year-old boy must uncover the real cause. The child should be treated as a victim.
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A 14-YEAR-OLD allegedly killed his father and grandmother and injured his mother at their home in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta. This is a heartbreaking tragedy. MAS is both a perpetrator and a victim of complicated circumstances that we, as adults, should all bear responsibility for.
Murders of parents by their children—known as parricide—are rare, especially with multiple victims as in the MAS case. But the numbers are still worrying. Research carried out by Kathleen M. Heide, a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, shows that in the United States alone, from 1976 to 2007, there were 133 cases of parricide. A third of these killings were carried out by children aged 8 to 17. The same crime occurs in other countries, such as Japan, Canada and France, where the proportion is significant: 2 to 5 percent of all murders.
Usually there is no clear motive or single trigger in this type of murder. A number of studies have shown that deep trauma often lies at the heart of the problem. In the case of MAS, it is believed that he was under severe pressure: stress as a result of demands for good grades at school and additional activities such as coding lessons that meant he went to bed very late. MAS has also said he heard disturbing ‘whispers’, a typical symptom of severe stress or depression.
The prosaic explanation from the police that MAS did not carry out the killings because of pressure from his parents to study is clearly unsatisfactory. A more thorough investigation is needed to understand the family dynamics, the parenting style, communication and the environmental support around MAS. The facts must be uncovered, so the details of the case come out into the open and it can serve as a lesson for us all.
The anger that children feel towards their parents is suppressed for years before it finally explodes in the form of extreme actions, such as murder. This anger could be caused by physical, sexual or psychological abuse. Even a throwaway comment like, “Why is your report so bad?” or “You are not like your older sibling, whose grades are so good” can leave deep emotional scars on children.
Unlike adults, who have the freedom to leave uncomfortable situations, children often have no choice but to remain in the environment that put them under pressure. Some children may try to run away from home, but they often return due to emotional bonds with their parents. This sense of powerlessness makes things even worse for them.
In this kind of situation, adults in proximity to children—members of the extended family, neighbors, teachers, and law enforcement officers—have an important role to provide protection. Concern and understanding about the condition of children can be a way out of the cycle of stress they are trapped in. If not, their deep emotional wounds can develop into a tragedy like that of the MAS case.
This tragedy should serve as a strong warning to all of us that children are a collective responsibility. The traumas that they experience are not only a problem of individuals or families, but a reflection of the lack of concern and social support. We need to take action together to create an environment that is safe, full of love and that supports the physical and psychological development of children.
