speaking as a child of abuse…no, it should not. The system failed him and his family time and time again…I hope the appeals court reverses his and his friends ruling and if not some sees the sense in pardoning a child abandoned by the system.

Whats with all the Puritanism, Rolling Stone… ‘can he be forgiven?’

How bout we just recognize the terrible outcome of the situation and acknowledge what options Ybanez may or may not have had? Whys this have to be a coice between condemnation or forgiveness?

Thank you for reading my post ladies and gentlemen keep your minds open and your hearts warm and rastafari love.

Well written!! Something needs to be done to protect our children. In the U. S. there are over 2500 kids doing LWOP, other kids being raped and killed in juvenile facilities, all while adult predators are getting probation! What’s wrong with this picture? Kids are our future…but you’d never know it.

If he made an effort to get out of the situation, which he obviously did, then he shouldn’t be punished by spending his life behind bars. The justice system proved no justice for this man and I hope he and his friend are released.

man, this story makes the aztec ritual of cutting out the criminals heart at the top of a pyramid and tossing the worthless body to the bottom. at least they didn’t put him through the torture and brutality of the prison system which is designed to punish, brutalize, dehumanize and destroy the soul of it’s innmates rather than rehabilitate, teach, reconcile and return them to society as a worthy member rather than a hateful, paranoid, better trained criminal. Where’s the compassion of a christian nation?

ooops!!!
insert… seem compassionate by comparison

after “bottom”

and change “didn’t put him through” into “didn’t put them through”

What a heart breaking life… It makes you wonder what kind of country we live in–doesn’t seem any better than any third world country that I know of. I’m only sorry that Nathan didn’t kill his dad. What a despicable monster. He’s the one who should be in prison.

My husband is incarcerated in CO. The so-called “correctional” system is an oxymoron – it does not rehabilitate people, it makes them worse because they are locked up with with people much more violent than they are. Governor Owens’ greatest crowning achievement is an overloaded correctional system…like the legislature said…it’s a train wreck waiting to happen. Nathan and all of the other kids should be released. Women use the batter and abuse defense all the time and get off. 2 women here were sentenced to life without parole and both were involved in the murders of police officers. Their sentences have been changed and they are now both in community corrections, working their way back to society. Why are these kids throwaways and not these women? Thankfully my husband will be out in 91 days…hopefully never to return…he too was physically abused by both his dad and stepdad. He knows now what causes his anger and he’s going to counseling when he’s released…he’s an adult survivor of child abuse…DOC never saw fit to try and help him figure out what was going on…it’s all about punishment and time…the correctional system in Colorado has lost it’s mind…hopefully Governor Ritter will see fit to change that.

And, if you had read the Denver Post article a few months back, you would know that he asked the police for help and he was turned down. Dad took over the case and would not allow the childhood abuse and the marks on his back to be brought up in court. GET HIM OUT OF THERE!

Nate’s sentence is a travesty of justice. I know all too well about justice for juveniles in Colorado. My son was charged as an adult when he was 15 for shooting his antagonist which netted him a 32-year jail sentence. Today he is 27, still serving out his time. Adults don’t even pull this kind of sentence for murder! Of course, it was an election year….

I’m embarrassed that a state as beautiful as Colorado has such a dark side. It doesn’t take a Columbo-style detective to “follow the money”. If you’re shocked by how many kids Colorado and the nation are locking up, wait’ll you get a load of who’s profiting from building more prisons!

Nate has suffered enough, and he doesnt need to suffer any longer. Its wrong and screwed up that the government didn’t do anything to help him. Nate should have been released a long time ago. I think its fair that he should get another trial.

I Live In Maryland And I Was Thinking Of Visiting CO. But After Reading This And How Screwed Up Ther Law “System” Is Over There HA I don’t think so. my point is i dont think that this poor boy should have to suffer his father should be the one in jail not him. he a sweet caring inocent boy and to be honist I would be privliged to have him as a friend

Like the last person said I to live in MD. and i think his father should be the one in jail not Nate. and i would trust him 100% with anything I would be honered to have him as a friend and I think that “system” failed I read that he was a good kid he got good grades and his parents dident care and some of the other stuff I read that they did to him made me literly want to VOMIT. How could someone do this sick twisted stuff to there own flesh and blood? My Prayers Are With You Nate And I Hope That You Get Out You Do Not Deserve That.

One More Thing Im Going To Circulate This Petition On My Myspace To Get As Many Signatures As Possible

I wholly agree with Marr on the last part.

This is not the only story out there. There are so many lawyers out there that just “do nothing” and the community pays for it. I live in Colorado and I must say that it gets harder every day to call this my “home” state. There are people that say that this is “God Country”! Well if this is God’s Country were do we have the right to treat people like this? There are to many people in prison and the “defense laws” get paid lots of money to do NOTHING!! The sad thing is that the appeals courts and every other court just play ping pong with cases like this. “Its not our job its _____, Well its not ours its _____. On and on and not one judge or DA will take the responsibility of the whole thing. How much do poeple have to suffer before our “Government” will care about the innocent before they care about what is happening over seas???????

he should be released immediatly. those cops are fuckers and should have arrested his parents and have provided nate with therapy 15 years ago!! i have been raped not by family but by an ex friend and only once.. and i know how that effected me. i cant even imagine his pain. jail was not the answer for him. i probably would have done the same thing if i were in his place except i would have done something to his bastard father too. poor nate first his parents fuck up his life now he is in jail. fucked up!

this is heartbreaking and disgusting! i was brought to tears with this article. How in the world could we let this happen? And we don’t just need to gripe about it, we need to do something about it. Go to friendsofnathanybanez.com for info on how to help, or make a donation, or something. Please, for the love of God help him, he does not deserve this in the slightest.

I also agree with westhemess82.
Please roling stone, keep the story and information alive so we can get him the hell out of jail.

It’s unfortunate that when a child reaches out for help and doesn’t receive it. It doesn’t leave much hope for the future.

The BBC Website has just highlighted Erik Jensen’s /Nate’s plight. This story needs to be heard by many around the world and hopefully enough of an outcry will be made that Colorado re-thinks their previous poor and costly judgement.

Unfortunately, Colorado has almost 100 people serving life for crimes they committed while juveniles. I represent a young man convicted of felony murder (he killed no one) who got life without parole at age 15. For the last 4 years he has been in solitary confinement, again without having harmed anyone. America has the most unjust justice system in the Western world.

I am the Executive Director of The Pendulum Foundation that is trying to help Nathan and all the other Colorado kids serving life without parole. Remember, Nathan’s story isn’t even unique. We have kids serving life sentences who never killed ANYBODY. We have another kid serving life for a hit and run. A third, who, like Nathan, killed his abusive parents. At age 15, he was sentenced to LWOP and has been behind bars nearly 15 years. Please let our legislators and governor know that current kids serving life without parole need programs AND a second chance.
Thanks for caring about this issue.
maryellen@pendulumfoun dation.com

This story makes me ashamed and afraid to live here in Colorado.

After reading the article in Rolling Stone, I couldn’t help but be outraged! I immediately wrote emails to people in the Colorado state government. The way that Nathan’s case was handled is absolutely appalling to me. Those involved should be ashamed of themselves. I can only hope that this article enraged enough people like myself, and that we can un-do this injustice!

Nathan & Erik (especially Erik) should both be released immediately. How can anyone justify taking the lives of children by locking them away forever? Colorado should have every case reviewed for these children that were sentenced to LWOP as a teenager. NO – it shouldn’t take years or a lot of $$$$$$. A team of law students (some of the best) should be given this job to handle (since the attorneys are always soooo busy).
My nephew was 16 years old when he was sentenced to LWOP for a hit and run. He is now 31. Adults have hit & runs daily and receive little or no time. Why is it that Colorado lawmakers are playing GOD with young lives? Our lawmakers are failing to do good, just and right. Our world – especially the State of Colorado is filled with evil & darkness. We-residents of Colorado have the opportunity to shine our light. We must resist the urge to do nothing and help those who have been thrown away.

The Pendulum Foundation works hard for our children who have been forgotten about by others. We need to push hard for action from the Governor and Legislators to make a change. We don’t want our State being viewed as an evil, harsh and bitter State. Let’s give our children a 2nd chance. GOD gives us 2nd, 3rd, 4th, hundreds, millions if needed.

I have had the privilege of reading not only this article but some of Nates journal and a poem. I am also a survivor of severe child abuse. I made it out still alive. Nate’s story makes me value my position and realize that some victims are not as lucky. I am a writer – just like Nate and can say that he is very needed in this world and that he was dealt a wrongful card. I wish the best for him and I will continue to follow up on his story. I hope that people who did have a happy childhood understand how much it can affect your whole life as I struggle everyday to just get by and be a better person. How is society supposed to overcome its faults with a blessed soul such as Nates rotting on a wrongful judgment?

I was very surprised to see this article in the rolling stone. I was a close friend of Nate’s and know of the abuse he endured. I was always alarmed at his trial that abuse was not used at all, and even more no one of his friends could be character witnesses. Nate is a strong man and I hope his case can be appealed.

Nates story is heart wrenching. i would love to see him get a new trial. this guy got a raw deal. i believe he had every right to kill his “mother”. and damn the police and children services for not helping him.my prayers and thoughts are with you Nate.

Absolutely unbelievable. I’m terrified that the state of Colorado is really this stupid. Tell everyone you know of this story, it has to be corrected.

As someone who was abused, my heart goes out to Nate. He looks like such a mild mannered guy, like someone who I could be good friends with if we met on the street. I completley believe in the power of forgivness and if nate needs that from anyone it is from himself. He did indeed earn the title murderer but the path that led him there was not his choice. Like he said “I just wanted to be a kid.” I’ll be your friend Nate. You’re not alone.
And there is a petition for nate- just google his name.
Thanks Rolling Stone for making us aware so we can take action.
Peace, Caroline In Oregon

You ask if Nate can be forgiven for “revenge” but what he did, as far as I can tell, was self-defense. When you have been treated that way, and trapped, and nobody listens, and you are five minutes from doing what constitutes saving your own life and your abuser interferes, there’s just no way to credibly call it anything else. I’ve been there. Fortunately, someone fell from the sky who had the means and the desire to help me leave a situation that would otherwise have killed me. I spent most of my life not defending myself in the way that Nate ultimately did.

Get this man out of jail. He has suffered so much more than enough.

The Article should have been entitled, “Can the State of CO EVER be forgiven?”

If Nate had been a female, we would not be having this discussion.

No, he should not be in prison for the rest of his life for this.

If the law is going to treat him as a child when he tries to leave home, what right do they have to treat him as anything but a child for his actions at home. Another instance of “child when convenient, adult when convnient”.

Had he been treated like an adult before the (justifiable in my opinion) homicide, there’s an excellent chance there would have been no homicide.

How can the state get away with this? They consider him a “child” and force him to return home to an abusive environment. But when he can’t take any more and reacts to that environment, they treat him just like an adult who could have left at anytime.

Attorney Craig Truman should be disbarred. To flagrantly disregard the ethical rules governing attorneys is a DISGRACE. What’s scary is that attorneys like Truman (the ones who care only about money, and nothing about their clients) are everywhere.

I’ll say a prayer for Nate (and his appellate attorney), but I wish I could do much, much more. I hope this young man realizes how strong he really is, and how much power he now has to educate the ignorant.

yeah well its easy to criticize the lawyer s in the case that tanked this kids case, but if you take on the powers you can loose everything anyways. my lawyer tom furth was the best fighting lawyer of all and he helped me tons and then he fights powers about abuse and they go after him and take his law practice away. he kept me from having to go back to a house where i’d basically be killed. My older sister to. Maybe he shouldntve taken on all the new fights because they were gonna get him or go after him so yeah this kids lawyer may have sucked but that just makes him loke most lawyers “public pretenders” on up. If this boy in Colorado had lawyers that would fight he’d be out but the lawyer would get attacked. trust me ive seen it tom saved my life and look what it got him. well im sign the petition and im sorry that this guy has to be locked up forever hopefully he gets out.

I agree with all the supportive comments for Nate. I challenge everyone to do their part in helping this young man. Sign the petition and make a donation to his cause. I also encourage all of you to write to Governor Bill Owens and future Governor Bill Ritter and call this to their attention as well. Every little bit helps…

I AGREE! Truman should not have a license to practice law for the flagrant disregard he showed his client. Regardless who was paying him to represent Nate, Truman was bound by the Code of Ethics and LAW to represent his CLIENT, Nate.

I wouldn’t hire Truman to be a dog-catcher!

Who would we write to in order to report Truman to the BAR Association?

i think our country’s penal system is barbaric, cruel, and unjust. i don’t think nathan nor his friend deserve a moment in jail. i think most prisoners are underprivileged, uneducated, and with histories of horrific abuse by parents who have also the same history. I would like to help nathan and help raise money for his defense. Please notify me with details so I can get the ball rolling. My goal in life is to spread compassion and forgiveness to those with so little support and understandin. I would have also murdered my mother given the same cercumstances, but that would have been humanly impossible given my ‘cushy’ upbringing. Please let me know where to send funds that I plan on raising for my new friend Nathan.

I would like to contribute my expertise as a clinical psychologist to the legal team involved in Nate’s appeal. I have 30 plus years in working with young people and the psychological issues of abuse and maltreatment.

God bless Nate!
His father should be hung by his balls along with his lawyer!!!
Also the police and child services that let this kid down!!!! unbelievable……
I’m very happy to see all the support on this post, I felt like I had to say something. I’m a father of 5 and this article was very disturbing on so many levels!
Good Luck Nate!

I am one of only 2 people who write to a
prisoner in Ark. who is serving LWOP.
He was 15 at the time. That was 28 years ago. It’s horrific how we treat our troubled
teenagers. In spite of his treatment, prisoner
Edward Little is one of the most compassionate and enlightened person I have ever encountered and I have seen the Dalai Lama 3 times in the past 3 years.

Nate should be sprung first thing tomorrow morning. Can’t afford an appeal? Seems to me an appeal wouldn’t be necessary were it not for the stellar work of Craig Truman. He should be sued for every dime it takes to mount a competent defense for nate, then be disbarred for gross incompetence, conflict of interest, and any number of ethics charges. Any number of real lawyers should be able to handle that chore.

Thank you, Rolling Stone, for publishing this article. We can only hope that not only will it be remembered, but that people will take action, and that Colorado will change its sick, backward policy towards youth.

Many rock stars come from really harsh backgrounds. It would be very good karma if some of them would kick over some cash to Nate’s appeal fund at the pendulumfoundation

It is so very sad that money is the only route to justice. One in 32 Americans in the Justice system– Is this Crazy-land?

Why should Nate Ybanez be the one punished? People who abuse their kids deserve death. With the beatings, incest and abuse Nate obviously had problems…Why jail instead of therapy?

Why isn’t any one doing anything about this? Why are more and more children being abused? Fuck the terrorists out in the Middle East. It’s not them we should be worrying abut…It’s the goddamn child-raping terrorists that are right here in our own backyards. That who we should be fighting.

Not too long ago I read that in some states a child as young as 10 can be tried as an adult.
Who’s the monster now? Are we protecting predators or children?
…Sometimes I forget.

The following was dictated over the phone by Nathan Ybanez:

“Friends have sent me many of your comments via the mail. Thank you all for caring about me. I am overwhelmed and inspired by the public response.
I understand your outrage against my attorney and others, but I beg you to replace that hatred with compassion. Hatred is what got me into prison in the first place. Hatred doesn’t solve anything. Compassionate action does. You know how to get involved in my case, but I also ask that you not just focus on me. Thousands of other teens are serving life, many with cases worse than mine. In your state, possibly in your home town, you are housing other Nathans — only nobody knows about them.
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE! Help ALL of us!”
Nathan Ybanez
(posted by maryellen@pendulumfoundation.c om)

It’s understandable to be angry over Nate’s situation We are responsible for our society. How we treat our young people and women is an indication of our ignorance. What Nate’s letter shows us is that he has gained wisdom in how he sees the world. He’s right to move his thinking beyond being a victim to,
“how can I help?” We would all like to stop injustice. It angers us to see such blatant abuse and corruption. But to respond in anger and hatred is not the answer, it only leads to more anger and hatred. Nate is in a place where fear and intimidation are power and those who are paid to protect him may not be incline to do so. This is not new to him. What is new is, his relationship to Pendulum Foundation and the caring people at Rolling Stone Magazine. People with compassion and empathy who can make a difference. Those he turned to, as a teenager didn’t have the ability to help him. So lets do as Nate has asked. Look at our own communities and ask, could this happen here? Do we have local child & family services that would have prevented this horrific out come? this is our responsibility, to think globally and act locally. To look at models like the Dalai Lama Center for Education in Vancouver. Places that do non-religious research based on compassion, empathy and social responsibility. Perhaps ask magazines like Rollong Stone to take donations in order to send gifted subscriptions to young LWOP inmates. Positive attention is what Nate needs most. Lets be grateful for those who do this.

The Judicial System of our country protects the wicked, destructive many while the few unfortunate are “fed to the machine” I’ve read various stories of a similar nature, however, I have never been so moved as I am by this one. I myself was never treated well by my father, I totally relate to Nate’s plight. I wish I could contact him directly to express my sympathy, offer my support, and possibly offer assisstance of some sort. “Nate, I feel for you man, most people have no soul what so ever, you have more than the majority. Take care brother, you are in my prayers.”

Nate’s story, and all of the others like his, are tragic. I’d like to encourage people to think about foster children (don’t have to host – something as simple as tutoring, reading with, playing ball, celebrating a birthday). Had the system “worked” for someone like Nathan, among other things, he would have been removed from his home and placed into foster care or a group home.

That opens up a whole separate issue of disappointments and flat-out failures that our system poses to children. Even after children are “protected” they are often subject to additional abuse, separated from siblings, and otherwise forced to process life on their own (with some support from an overloaded case worker). They turn 18 and are kicked out into society with few resources and essentially penniless.

Let’s make sure we follow the whole curve – support Nathan’s current fight, as well as what might have become of him in a “best case scenario”. We’ve got so much work to do – no kid deserves to be forgotten.

I wonder if the state of Colorado knows anything about solving “crimes” and putting the right offenders in jail. Wasn’t this also the state that Jon Benet was killed in and “hello” it is still unsolved due to the police messing up the crime scene from the beginning. Nate Ybanez should not be in jail, he should be in counseling for the awful life he has had to live due to his abusive parents, the Colorado police, child services and the shyster lawyer that his Dad hired – Craig Truman should be ashamed for calling himself a “lawyer” You rock Nate – my prayers are with you and I know that justice will prevail….

Why is it the most “evangelical” people make the most horrific decisions, always to further benefit themselves and their own needs? Do they truly believe Jesus will forgive them for all of the terrible things they do to weaker people and then lie about it? I want to know what Roger Ybanez was doing/giving/promising/threate ning the Sheriffs Dept. with so they would not report the abuse of Nate to DHS. How can a State be allowed to make decisions on young victim’s lives which could be influenced by which political party is in power and how powerful and corrupt the local church leaders are? This story is another example of how evangelical Christians are THE MOST CORRUPT and EVIL PEOPLE out there. Thank you.

Being raised with Christian beliefs, I believe myself to possess a strong moral compass. I do not condone murder, especially when it is a product of spite or a form of revenge. For these reasons, I sympathize sincerely with Nathan Ybanez.
It’s so easy to cast aside a teenager who smokes pot, sports an unruly hair style and listens to punk rock, label him a “troubled teen” and assume that he would create lies to incriminate parents he has problems with. I cannot understand, however, how it is so easy to cast aside the information provided by professional and unbiased child and adult psychologists, physical and psychological and sexual abuse experts and investigators hired for Nathan Ybanez, all of whom are convinced that he is truthful when he speaks of the horrible abuses he suffered as a young child and teenager. The only person in the defense of Nathan Ybanez’s case who doesn’t seem to be convinced of these travesties was his initial defense lawyer, who was “ironically” hired by his father, Roger, who paid the defender $90,000 (none of which was used to bring in these experts or eye-witnesses in the hearing) half up front and half after the verdict. Despite the fact that Nathan was found guilty, and despite the fact that Nathan was sentenced to life without parole, the “attorney” still received the entire amount, which in light of the verdict and the man who paid the bill, is extremely suspicious.
My point: I do not condone the acts of Nathan Ybanez. He took another human life, and that is unacceptable. However, this young man suffered indecencies and abuse that no human being should have to suffer and had an unfair trial, and that is also unacceptable. After years of abuse and practically no positive influences, it isn’t a wonder that Ybanez became misguided enough to end the life of one of his torturers. Ignoring the words of abused children and teens, “troubled” as they appear, is what leads to this kind of violence. After all, there is a reason they are “troubled” in the first place.

I read this article back in November and I can’t seem to get it out of my head.
I, by no means or way, condone murder of any kind. But is it odd to say that I understand how it could have happened in this case.
How can our system fail so miserably? After help was sought for this young man, prior to the murder, he got a cold shoulder from all angles and protective services. The only people to feel his struggle were his close friends and their families. What a shame that help could not find him soon enough.
I understand that Julie Ybanez was murdered. I understand the terrible trauma done to her in her final moments. But as a parent or better yet as a mother, HOW can you allow such horrible, horrific things to happen to your child? And how can you impose such terrible things upon your child yourself?
I am at a state of in difference on how I feel about her death. But one thing I do know is I will try to do whatever is with my power to help to see that Nathan and Erik are given another chance to succeed in life. I can only hope that our justice system, country wide, gets re-evaluated. And that children in jails can be given that chance to prove themselves as humble, caring and soulful beings. We children ARE the future. Please don’t give up on us!

Just read the article and was very moved so decided to check out the blogs. I have a response to Seeking Truth. If you know the truth, what is it? Speak up!

After reading this story I wondered why Nate is in prison? What a miscarriage of justice. how could anyone let this happen? Of course i believe that Nate and Erik and their friends were no angels also but his cries for help were ignored. his defense lawyer should be disbarred for the poor job he did. i think the kids should be pardoned or at the least have a retrial. I could care less that the trial was discussed on courtTV. ratings and entertainment do not change my opinion at all. This kid is not like the Melendez brothers. What a sad case. How sad that members of the “religious” community take such a negative attitude. i am a Catholic who is praying for all of them. i think if nate was out of prison he will never forget what he did to his mother. That alone is additional punishment for the rest of his life.

to quote 1:16 ” Julie was the VICTIM…NO ONE WOULD NEVER HAVE LET THIS HAPPEN TO THEIR OWN MOTHER”

I agree. But a woman who rapes!, beats, mentally abuses, threatens with suicide, and allows her child to be viciously abused by another is no mother. She is merely ovaries with a dead heart.

I would never condone the taking of a person’s life, but I think the extreme abuse should be considered in Nathan’s case. Those who’ve dealt with an abusive childhood can understand and sympathize with the absolute dehumanization and destruction of the soul that occurs when you feel not love but wrath and fear from your own parents at such a tender age.

This story absolutely struck me, and I have been thinking about it for days. I sincerely hope that Nathan and Erick get a fair retrial. I think they’ve served their time and deserve to be allowed to move on.

Nate Ybanez deserves to be out of jail. And he deserves a medal for surviving his childhood.

What happened to Nate Ybanez is shameful beyond my few words. His lawyer is a fuck-up in serious need of being disbarred, and his parents are psychopathic criminals, who should themselves be in jail.

Nate Ybanez has my best wishes for a sucessful appeal, and a fruitful life thereafter.

I work for the juvenile justice system in Ohio. We work closely with the prosecutors, defense attorneys, children services and the schools.

It seems from Nate’s story that he was failed more by his family than the system. Where were his extended family to help raise him, or at least give the option for him to stay with them when he was growing up? There were there to say how abused he was, but no one stepped up and intervened on his behalf. They also do not vist or write him now that he is incarcerated. Very sad.

While the Child Welfare system is flawed in many ways (no one can deny this) it has been my experience that if they receive enough phone calls about the abuse/neglect of a child, they will act. If for no reason other than to get people off of their back. Teens are not forgotten. If Nate had contacted the human services himself, or told someone at school- even a portion of what he claims happened to him- there would have had to be an investigation by law. IF nothing else, they would have given him protective supervision with him living at home and a case worker to make sure a case plan was being completed.

Nate claims that he had a horrible isolated childhood where he was secluded and abused verbally, mentally and sexually. He was not permitted friends and was regually beaten. This seems to change all of the sudden when he moves to Colorado. He is allowed to attend public school, have friends, be in a band, work outside the home. He is no longer being sexually abused and physical abuse has all but stopped. At the time of the murder, the abuse HAD STOPPED due to his father no longer living at home.

Nate admits turning to a life of drugs and alcohol. He admits to using drugs and alcohol to distort his perception of reality as a means of coping with his life. He quits going to school.

If Nate was seen by many of us on the street, we would consider him a druggie and high school drop out who deserved the crappy life he was living. Not a martyr.

None of us was there. We don’t know what really happened to Nate, or his mother Julie. We can only go on his version of the story- in which he admits to killing his mother b/c she gave a look he didn’t like- and now he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison for choosing to kill her.

In the Ohio county where I work, Nate’s case would have been handled jointly between the Juvenile Court and the Adult Common Pleas court. He most likely would have been tried as an Adult, but been allowed to serve whatever portion of his jail sentence while he was under 18 at a juvenile facility and then transfered to an adult facility after age 18/21.
On the issue of whether or not he would have been provided independent legal counsel beyond what his father was paying for…
Nate would have been entitled to a Public Defender at no cost to him. He most likely would have been appointed a Guardian ad Litem since his father has a vested interest in how the case turns out. This may or may not have changed the outcome of the case.
We need to remember that Nate confessed to killing his mother. The chances of him being aquitted are pretty much nil.
It is very expensive to go to trial. Inasmuch, the county will do whatever it can to avoid one. Including offering a plea agreement. (Like admit you did this and we will charge you with Manslaughter instead of Murder.) For this to have gone to TRIAL, there must have been something else going on.
His attorney is bound to provide the best possible defense for his client. So it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t enter a plea agreement for his client if all he was going to do is get him convicted of the worst possible crime.
Not having read any transcripts, it is hard to say whether or not Nate aided in his own defense. Did he tell his attorney about the abuse? Did he refuse expert testimony on his behalf? Knowing the answers to these questions would certainly change how we could/would view the final outcome.

I guess my point is this…
It is always very tragic when someone kills another person. The tragedy is compounded when a history of abuse and neglect of a child is revealed as a contributing factor. No living creature should ever be, dare I say tortured, like that. However, we all have a choice. Nate was clearly in a position to have made a different choice. He was no longer being physically abused. He was no longer being sexually abused. He had a job and his own money. He had the ability to move about the community. He could have walked out past his mother that afternoon. He did not need to kill her to leave. And that is why he is serving life in prison.

Perhaps our money and energy would be better spent encouraging Nate and others like him to be involved in outreach/scared straight programs for at-risk youth. By telling their story and accepting responsiblity for their actions, they may be able to prevent someone else from making the same mistakes they did.

I could not agree with you more !!!
Thank you for very clearly stating the obvious.

I agree with ‘Kathy’…. SPEAK UP ‘Seeking Truth’!!!!

I’ve been checking these blog postings everyday to see how people are reacting to Nate’s story. I’ve had mixed emotions. When I read the last few postings I decided that I needed to write something on behalf of my friend Nate Ybanez.
Nate and I have been friends for more than 6 years. We’ve written letters on a very consistent basis, talked on the phone several times, and I’ve gone to visit him at the sterling correctional facility twice so far.
I remember talking to Nate about this Rolling Stone’s article before it came out… he had mixed emotions about it. He wanted to share his story in order to help other people and kids in similar situations… in order to help them not do what he did… but at the same time he felt shame in exposing his world to our world.
I am overwhelmed when I think of the person Nate Ybanez is… we will never know the hurt and distruction that he experienced in his life, but I do feel that I know Nathan deeper than almost anyone else and I can say that he is a selfless individual.
Every moment of his life it was pounded into Nate that he was worthless… a nothing… a nobody… not worthy of the love or care or attention of anyone… Can you imagine this childhood? Can you imagine this lonliness? Can you imagine this existance? I bet that some of you can… Killing is wrong… but as infants and children our brains learn to connect and feel and love… it’s scientific fact that if children are not loved and cared for… or do not grow up feeling safe in their environment it will impact their development and they won’t think or act like “normal” children who grew up in a safe home.
Can we blame people for turning to drugs or alcohol or bad friends (who actually show them acceptance) when we afford them no other option for comfort in this life?
Nathan wants nothing good for himself… He spends his time in prison helping other people with their cases and building up those who have been torn down… he doesn’t do this for himself…
A few weeks ago Nate called me: “I have a friend in here who has a 14 year old daughter… she’s really upset and has tried to kill herself a few times… I wrote her a letter and don’t know if she’ll write back cuz she doesn’t know me… will you call her and make sure she’s doing okay?” This is the man Nathan Ybanez is.
Everytime I’ve driven away from that prison my heart sinks that I have to leave him there… Nate doesn’t deserve to be there any longer. He has paid for what he did, but no one will ever be able to pay Nathan for what was done to him.
I’m not trying to turn a blind eye to the crime that Nate committed… I just see more of the truth that so many have overlooked… we need to stop throwing people away… I pray everyday for peace in Nate’s soul and that he might be released.
Please be compassionate in your consideration of Nathan Ybanez and others like him… if we walked a mile in their shoes we might be shocked at what they’ve endured.
My heart is with you everyday, my friend… don’t give up!

Wow, hard to comment after the Nate one person marching band. I understand that you wanted to get across how much Nate is a nice guy but sometimes going into over kill is counterproductive. Luckily, I agree with you on some points. I believe Nate should be punished but not LWOP. The only thing though when you read transcripts of the trial etc he admits guilt and there is no abuse brought up. So from that it is murder, when the appeal is heard and the abuse is raised and supported than I think he should get manslaughter and hopefully get out on time served. I initially was angry at how criminal this whole thing was to lock a guy like him up, but looking at what the jurors were shown there really wasnt much else for them to say but guilty. Lets hope his appeal is successful and he gets out. I sincerely hope he does and he has my full support. I read on another site how “selfless” he was in some stuff that he has said. If thats true, even more reason for him to get out and prove he has rehabilitated himself in a system where rehabilitation doesnt exist. Good luck Nate and hang in there.

Nate sounds like an amazing young guy. I think he has served his time. My heart is with you too Nathan.

Nothing justifies what Nate did. It was a crime that he comitted, regardless of where it ended. But incarceration is to remove a threat from society. Nate is a threat to his father, to his mother, but not to anyone else. And, to be perfectly honest, if they had been tossed in jail it would have been right and nate could not have touched them. The ball was really dropped on all of this, and though Nate is accountable for his actions, why has no one else been held so. Just the person with the least culpability…

As a teenager living in Australia I am routinely shocked by the stories we hear about the American justice and welfare systems. I am sure Australia has its issues as well, but I find the levels of injustice and extremism of the rich, conservative and religious in America supremely disturbing.
This article is one of the saddest stories I have ever read.

God bless Rolling STone and Paul Solotaroff for bring the heart-breaking story of Nathan Ybanez to the national light. I tried to contribute to FriendsofNathanYbanez.com but apparently it is not longer a website.

And also, God bless you for this and other articles bringing to our attention the shameful explosion of jail terms and incarcerations when crime is going down.
Our country’s awful punitive direction for so-called Juvenile Justice–advanced by the neo-cons and religious right–would shock Charles Dickens!

Nate had every chance to leave his parents residence on his own, he was 16 years old, not a little kid. Nate was doing adult things. Drinking, usuing drugs, partying. He was skipping school to go play, he could have skipped going home. His situation did not have to end in murder.I feel sorry for Nate for what happened to him before he decided to kill someone, but he had many other choices, besides murder. He acted like an adult and he is getting punished like an adult. Case closed.

This was the most horrible situations I have read/heard of in a while. The system COMPLETELY failed this poor kid. He and others asked for help for him and he was not only turned down, he was actively brought back to the very ‘people’ who were brutally abusing him. This makes me absolutely ill, what makes me more ill is that I can not do anything to help change this situation. There is no way that Nate should be serving life in jail, the cops and human service workers who forced him further into the cracks should however. As should his disgustingly sick father.

I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of people treating children the way that Nate has been treated, I work in an area where I see and believe children are dealing with the disgusting abuse endured for too long by Nate and feel helpless at the lack of help these children recieve.
I was raped at 15,I cant imagine having that happen when I was any younger or having that experience over and over again, disgustingly by parents, its not surprising at all that he killed that sick fuck of a woman.I read Nates comment about letting go of the anger…mate, if you can its a lesson to all of us to stay strong.You dont need forgivness Nate, your parents do and the justice system that is still keeping you behind bars.

To all these people that say he had money, he should have left home, blah blah. Where would he go, the streets? Some of you people, including the juvenile justice worker, apprently don’t see what the streets do to teen runaways and foster kids when they age out. It isn’t pretty and in many cases is just as bad as home. And considering how many times he asked for help before and didn’t get it, I’m not surprised he didn’t ask for help this time. He should have put in the juvenile system. As a former victim of abuse, I’m sorry to say but his mom got what she deserved. Nate had paid his debt to society in full and should be released. And to Carole, the juvenile justice worker, unless you’ve been through the hell of being abused for years like many of us have, don’t post all that crap you did. If leaving an abusive household was that easy, Nate, me and others like us would have done it.

I think what happened to him was really messed up. I also think him and his friend shouldnt have to do life.

After readin this newspaper article I was very surprised that nathan parents physical and sexual abused him and i think that nathan should have a second chance. I think that the government should take a look at the case again.

Mandatory sentencing requirements are immoral. And the truth that nobody wants to talk about is that Victim’s Rights groups are some of the most powerful intersts in politics. But that’s exactly what it is– politics. Nobody wants to oppose a grieving mother. And so you have politicians setting mandatory sentencing requirements in effort to never oppose these groups. Is this the best way to set policy? Nate’s case is nothing short of tragic. My heart goes out to him and others like him, and pray that our elected leaders grow a backbone in respect to our criminal justice system.

This is terrible. And people think there is is a hell- kids like Nate don’t go there, they already _are_ there, to put it mildly. I am a child of war, as someone referred to me. I grew up in a war-tor country, and have seen some horrible stuff. Still, my life is good, and what Nate, and others like him are going through, is so much, much worse. I pity the fools that convicted him, and may his father rot for ever. Abuse in the past is not an excuse to become the monster one has faced.

I just saw Frontline on TV, Tuesday.. My mind has been riddled with more questions than I have anwsers. I have read this article and several others, and I am so intrigued. While all of us are judging the article one way or another, (and that is natural), the overall picture for me, is grim. I honestly feel the pain of both sides. We have developed a system where one human to another has the right to judge our actions. We all want to play judge and jury on this topic, and so many people just dont care anymore.
I feel for Julie, in the instances that I have read about her, she loved her son. She may have been abusive, and from the facts she likely sexually abused Nate.. That is a disease, a sick twisted sickness inside of you, that doesnt mean that she didnt love her son. There are protective and possesive parents all over the world that raise their kids with a strict arm of discipline. Hate her sickness, not her.. She may not have understood why she did these things, she needed help to.
I feel mostly for Nate… What does a wild animal do when it is backed into a corner.. It attacks and defends at all cost. A trainer teaches its lion to jump through hoops, and feeds him well, to keep him from eating him. The moment the lion feels a pang of hunger it attacks, and tries to escape. Essentially this happened over and over for a young boy solely looking for an escape from the cage. NO he didnt have a right to kill, no one does- but after cries and pleade for help, and all of the people knowing that he was boiling and reeling inside, and on the verge of breaking out of the chokehold- it was the straw that broke the camels back…

To the man that commented that he had no remorse- you really need to find Nates diary and read the excerpts..He to loved his mother and suffered through a great deal just to try and make her pain go away, and succumbed to many unwanted things just to see his mother happy.

The system is not what failed Nate- HIS VERY OWN PARENTS FAILED HIM.. They objectively ruined all his happiness, in failed attempts at looking for their own. It goes to show you- abuse or no- everything that we do in our lives affects our children one way or another- from the smallest detail to the largest- we affect our children in profound ways. Think about these things before you start placing blame.. If the system failed Nate, we all have failed him, and we as a society are all to blame…

NOW DO YOU FEEL REMORSE?????????????

Mr. Boeheim there is no need to become so defensive. I am not recognizing either party as guiltless or guilty. And certainly your direct involvement with Julie plays a big part in your arguement. Just because this story just came to me- doesnt exclude me from wanting to know more about the situation out of curiousity, and something that struck me so profoundly. Plainly, I just cant seem to get this story off my mind. It is not my place to defend either party, your very correct in your statement I didnt know either one of them. BUT.. I am entitled to my opinion, as we all are. If you felt upset by my post I greatly apologize, it is not my intention to upset anyone. I am eager to know more facts, and more than capable of understanding the people who have suffered such a great loss on both sides of this horrible ordeal. So if I have offended please consider this my apology.

I may not be directly involved in this case in anyway whatsoever. But I am not blind and innocent in the cruel ways of the world. I have suffered many of my own tradgedy’s and mishaps, and some have been as great as the situation we are discussing now. So as I have stated twice Mr. Boeheim, I do not wish to get directly bashed, and there are many other posts here whom have judged much more harshly than I could ever think about doing. So lets just leave it at that, and accept my apology if you felt offense.

The case of Nathan Ybanez left me utterly incredulous. Is there no excuse for matricide in America? I suppose if a teenage girl killed her father after suffering years of his sexual abuse, society would give her a metal. As always, your progamming gets me to thinking. And as usual, PBS is only trying to undo the damage done by the rest of the media on public opinion and modern jurisprudence. I found a couple quotes pertinent to your program. Fyodor Dostoevsky — “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” Samuel Johnson — “A slight perusal of the laws by which the measures of vindictive and coercive justice are established will discover so many disproportions between crimes and punishments, such capricious distinctions of guilt, and such confusion of remissness and severity as can scarcely be believed to have been produced by public wisdom, sincerely and calmly studious of public happiness.”

Martin Bring
Bellingham, Washington

Very interesting all of the different types of views and opinions on this subject that exist, after all this time–

April

The issue to me is not whether Julie Ybanez should be alive, what is right or wrong or why Nate killed, the issue for me is Nathan has been sentenced to life WITHOUT parole. No amount of any crime, let alone your first convicton at 16 should have you placed in that position. So Julie is dead. Nate is sorry. (And I know this because I know Nathan) What is done is done. We need to be looking at helping these kids get out of prison who are on LWOP. A juvenile should NEVER be sentenced as an adult. No juvenile should EVER get LWOP or the Death Penalty. If you do not believe Nathan is sorry, help fix the system so someone you love is never subjected to spending their life behind bars because it is a REAL possibilty – whether you’re sorry or not. You cannot bring back Julie but with enough courage we can bring back hope.

The system did fail Nate and his family. That’s for sure. But…I am afraid to have him released. He is dangerous. The same w his friend Eric.

The system did fail Nate and his family. That’s for sure. But…I am afraid to have him released. He is dangerous. The same w his friend Eric.

I thought about that, I think maybe I would be afraid to… Is not that these are bad kids- but they have been in the institution now for years and things change you inside. That is a valid reason to consider different types of rehabilitation programs, it is toooo easy to just throw them in there and forget about them, and then society is scared of them, because of a position that we have put them in — meaning LWOP, not the crime that they have commited. THis is a very devastating reality.

The Point is, that there is a life still alive. The life of a child who never had a childhood. I’d be a hypocrite not to believe in transformation, rehabilitation and a second chance at a new way of life. I receive these blessings every single day, and Id safely assume that every single person reading this receives the same gifts in life. I know that I can only keep what I have by giving it away.
Brightest Blessings for Nathan.

The Point is, that there is a life still alive. The life of a child who never had a childhood. I’d be a hypocrite not to believe in transformation, rehabilitation and a second chance at a new way of life. I receive these blessings every single day, and Id safely assume that every single person reading this receives the same gifts in life. I know that I can only keep what I have by giving it away.
Brightest Blessings for Nathan.

I’m so sorry Nate was born into this kind of life and like many others wish him all the best in the future. I will be making a donation on his behalf and I hope everybody else on this site who commented will do the same. We need to do as much as we can to help these poor kids. Hang in there Nate. I know God will be watching and helping you get the life you so truly deserve. God Bless You.

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I was a long-time, close friend of Julie Ybanez from the Quad Cities, which is where they are originally from. Her husband Roger was a worthless bum who didn’t earn much of an income (if any) and they constantly were moving due to his failed busniess adventures or lack of work-he supposedly was a golf pro. At the time of the murder, Julie and Roger were separated and he was coming to her for money constantly. As for the $90,000 for a defense attorney, Julie had a large life insurance policy and when she died, NONE of it was used on her funeral. Her elderly mother in Davenport paid for all her funeral expenses, so there should be no surprise that money came from her insurance policy. Roger used all the money on himself and by the way, also took a long vacation to Europe afterwards.

The day of the murder, Roger came over to her home, and in front of Nate said he wasn’t in agreement with her sending him to a military type school out of state. Nate didn’t know about it and of course wouldv’e been furious to find out. Once again, Roger left Julie holding the bag to deal with Nate.

I question whether she was abusive or not, I do know she could no longer control Nathan and was contantly looking for help for him. She did everything she could. Roger I’m sure has a long history of abuse, as did his father. You trying to paint Julie as the bad guy in this scenario is wrong and using her christian faith is also very wrong. It had nothing to do with Nate being violent.

Roger Ybanez has three sisters, one of whom was missing and presumably dead, this is still an unsolved case here in the Quad Cities. There was a lot of speculation going on as to where Roger and his Father were involved in Maria Ybanez’s death back in the 70’s. I think someone needs to consider that idea.

As for the issue of whether Nate should pay for his actions for the rest of his life, you msut remember that he CHOSE to kill Julie, obviously planned it, because he invited 2 friends to help, had gasoline and her body in the trunk of the car, had and tickets to leave the country. The only thing that prevented Nate from the death penalty was his age, had he been a year older, he would’ve gotten the death penalty.

My opinion of this entire situation is that with his parents instability, constantly being uprooted and moved, the poor example of an abusive father and grandfather, is was all Nate could do to survive. It doesn’t surprise me that he is messed up and needs help. I have had a difficult time trying to see how the little boy I knew committing such a horrific murder. But, yes, I do, think he is where he needs to be and pay for it. The fact that he sounds like he is still trying to get out of this shows me that he still has no remose and has not reconsilled what he did. The very nature and brutality of Julie’s murder shows me he should not be let out of prison for nay reason.

I was a long-time, close friend of Julie Ybanez from the Quad Cities, which is where they are originally from. Her husband Roger was a worthless bum who didn’t earn much of an income (if any) and they constantly were moving due to his failed busniess adventures or lack of work-he supposedly was a golf pro. At the time of the murder, Julie and Roger were separated and he was coming to her for money constantly. As for the $90,000 for a defense attorney, Julie had a large life insurance policy and when she died, NONE of it was used on her funeral. Her elderly mother in Davenport paid for all her funeral expenses, so there should be no surprise that money came from her insurance policy. Roger used all the money on himself and by the way, also took a long vacation to Europe afterwards.

The day of the murder, Roger came over to her home, and in front of Nate said he wasn’t in agreement with her sending him to a military type school out of state. Nate didn’t know about it and of course wouldv’e been furious to find out. Once again, Roger left Julie holding the bag to deal with Nate.

I question whether she was abusive or not, I do know she could no longer control Nathan and was contantly looking for help for him. She did everything she could. Roger I’m sure has a long history of abuse, as did his father. You trying to paint Julie as the bad guy in this scenario is wrong and using her christian faith is also very wrong. It had nothing to do with Nate being violent.

Roger Ybanez has three sisters, one of whom was missing and presumably dead, this is still an unsolved case here in the Quad Cities. There was a lot of speculation going on as to where Roger and his Father were involved in Maria Ybanez’s death back in the 70’s. I think someone needs to consider that idea.

As for the issue of whether Nate should pay for his actions for the rest of his life, you msut remember that he CHOSE to kill Julie, obviously planned it, because he invited 2 friends to help, had gasoline and her body in the trunk of the car, had and tickets to leave the country. The only thing that prevented Nate from the death penalty was his age, had he been a year older, he would’ve gotten the death penalty.

My opinion of this entire situation is that with his parents instability, constantly being uprooted and moved, the poor example of an abusive father and grandfather, is was all Nate could do to survive. It doesn’t surprise me that he is messed up and needs help. I have had a difficult time trying to see how the little boy I knew committing such a horrific murder. But, yes, I do, think he is where he needs to be and pay for it. The fact that he sounds like he is still trying to get out of this shows me that he still has no remose and has not reconsilled what he did. The very nature and brutality of Julie’s murder shows me he should not be let out of prison for nay reason.

he should be given another chance, he tried to leave many times but didnt receive any help. yea he snapped,but who wouldnt?

he should be given another chance, he tried to leave many times but didnt receive any help. yea he snapped,but who wouldnt?

BOTTOM LINE:when a tenage boy gets to the point of killing his mother SOMETHING IS WRONG! NO ONE that grows up in a healthy domestic enviorment does something like that. The people responsible for these laws should wake up and look at some facts. Compasion is given to child molesters because it was done to them, compasion is given to rapists because they were abused, compasion is given to armed robers because they grew up in poverty and never had a chance why should Nate and every young person like him deserve less? Maybe I dont now what im talking about but i really hope from the bottom of my heart this young man is given a chance to live everything he was denied. I dont know what else to say to stress the severity of these kind of realities. I hope justice is served to the true victim in this case. Please excuse my spelling and terible grammer im glad i have a chance to state my opinion.

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
I will not support Hillary Clinton for president

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
I will not support Hillary Clinton for president

I love the comments from the “close, personal friend” of Julie Ybanez who “questions” if there was abuse…I have 2 children–10 months and 3 years, and I would fight my husband to his death if he EVER laid a hand on my babies. To stand there and allow abuse is the same as being the perpetrator.

Yes, I guess Nate “CHOSE” to snap and beat his mother to death, but it looks like sweet, innocent Julie CHOSE to stay married to a murdering monster who regularly beat her son and left his entire back scarred. DISGUSTING. And I can’t even wrap my mind around her sexual abuse of her son. Beyond the pale of vile and disgusting. She also apparently loved to beat him with wooden spoons as a toddler. I am so sad that she didn’t get a spectacular funeral–but in light of the torture her son suffered and still suffers, I just can’t shed a tear for her.

Is attorney Tom Furth the sme one that represented the Eldridge boys fromArk.?

this article and the comments after are disturbing to me. I did not realize how many people would be “ok” with the fact that Julie was brutally murdered!!! I happen to know about this case because a close family member was Julies friend.. Julie had told her that she had been threatened my erik. He had told her he was going to kill her, And as for the “abuse” i cant 100 percent guarantee it didnt happen, but its kinda strange that he never spoke up about it till recently. I dont think that this article fully explaned how brutul this murder was. Julie was beaten severly with a fireplace tool, so bad that there was even blood on the ceiling. One of her fingers was almost severed. Nathan Claims that he would rather be anywhere other than home, and feels safer in prison. Kinda odd how he claims to have “snapped” because of his parents decision to send him to military camp. If he was so abused wouldnt you think he would be relieved to finally be able to somewhat flee. Another thing that is horrid to read, is the comment he makes in his own journal admitting that prison makes a person more violent,,, sure let him out,,, just hope you dont cross him! If Nathan was as abused as he claimed, that is dissappointing and unexcusalbe, but it would be different if he killed his mother in self defense while being “abused”. and as for erik’s parents,, how are you not ashamed, you should be ashamed that your son was able to even stomache the event. Its not fair to see so many horrible things printed about Julie, she is not here to defend herself, She was never given that chance, how awful for her to be remembered in such an awful way. You are choosing to believe the people who are capable of such a crime. And parents who allowed their teenage son and his buddies sit in their basement and smoke pot all day,,, nice morals

Tina looking for you Marilyn and Barbara.

I was cleaning my room today, found this issue, and read the article. Good parents to do not raise murderers. Julie had it coming; her and her husband were horrible enough to have a child and abuse him together. And as for Quad-City Jeanne: go to hell no one wants to hear it

I am amazed at the both sides of this argument. Although I agree that Nate shouldn’t have killed her, I think the circumstances left him no choice. Child Services didn’t do a damned thing nor did the law enforcement. What else could he do to break free? As for him not being happy about being sent to military school even though it meant he was out of the abusive home, that was another way for his mother to control him and get reactions from him. Make him beg her and tell her how much he loved her. It’s a sick game. And to the friends, and friends of friends of Julie, the vile Mother. Who cares if she’s dead and can’t defend herself. Being a child of abuse, like I was, it’s hard to come forward, you’re not the only one hiding, the parents too are good at playing the role for their friends. My family had an encounter when my mom’s new boyfriend, who we ‘knew’ for 7 years, started raping my sister and poisoning my mom and brother’s food. I was an adult at this point and he stole my jewelry, had over 300 child porn videos on his personal computer and WAS not the person that people thought he was in public. He coached kids sports teams and pulled the wool over everyones eyes. That’s what she did to you so called friends. You think she wanted you to know she was sexually abusive and twisted to her son. People can hold secrets for a looooong time. SHE got what SHE deserved, and he continues to have to pay for setting himself free and getting rid of scum that the earth doesn’t need.

The important point here is how the abuse story plays out for Nathan & Eric. This was not an issue during the trial and was only brought about as a ploy for their appeal. Look further into the pendulum foundation and who started it! Sometimes people don’t look at the whole story what better of a story would it make if you said the reason I viciously killed my mother was because I was abused. The Nathan I knew was not abused by his mother by any means and for people to say the horrible things about Julie I think you should not believe EVERYTHING you read! Go on FACTS and actually being there and living with the family!!!! Don’t you realize people will do and say anything to get out of something. Let me say this when you all say how sorry you feel for Nathan and how remorsefull he is, if he is so sorry why has he not once in 10 years told his family that was so affected by this horrible slaughter of his mother that he is remorsefull!? Ask his family what they went through when they looked at the pictures of his mother after the murder! This is an example of nothing more than poor choices made by a teenager who got into the wrong crowd (Eric Jensen). Many people come from abused families I for one can vouch for that along with Nathans father and his sister. But the question is did they murder their parents who in your eyes today would have been called monsters for how they abused Nathans father when he was growing up! Parents don’t always make perfect choices and by no means am I condoning how they raised Nate. But I can speak from fact I lived with them and Julie never did what he is saying or could be capable of doing such a thing to the one person she loved more than her own life! People don’t always believe the press, remember no one wants to read facts, they only want to read what sounds good! Ask yourself that the next time you comment on something you know nothing about other than what you have read in a magazine or seen on TV. There is always a side they haven’t let you see!!! The TRUTH

just read this article online and had never heard of the case before (I live in scotland). the law sounds unjust. However I am confused…it sounds like Nathan is remorseful – or what does that mean…I mean It sounds like he is sorry about this but still wants to get out of jail. I don’t see the problem with this – you can simultaneously be sorry and want to be free can’t you? so I am not sure why some people who have written posts think that this is contradictory. Prisons need to be more about rehabilitation than punishment, the punishment is the bit we in ‘free’ society need to work out. I would like to know what type of Buddhism Nathan practices and I think the article is great. Luckily we don’t have the death sentence in the UK, and I am unfamiliar with juvenile sentencing.

and also, who did set up the pendulum foundation?