Boy hangs himself after watching Saddam

[Ite]

Boy hangs himself after watching Saddam


HOUSTON - Police and family members said a 10-year-old boy who died by hanging himself from a bunk bed was apparently mimicking the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Sergio Pelico was found dead Sunday in his apartment bedroom in the Houston-area city of Webster, said Webster police Lt. Tom Claunch. Pelico's mother told police he had previously watched a news report on Saddam's death.

"It appears to be accidental," Claunch said. "Our gut reaction is that he was experimenting."

An autopsy of the fifth-grader's body was pending.

Julio Gustavo, Sergio's uncle, said the boy was a happy and curious child.

He said Sergio had watched TV news with another uncle on Saturday and asked the uncle about Saddam's death.

"His uncle told him it was because Saddam was real bad," Gustavo said. "He (Sergio) said, 'OK.' And that was it."

Sergio's mother, Sara Pelico DeLeon, was at work Sunday while Sergio and other children were under the care of an uncle, Gustavo said. One of the children found Sergio's body in his bedroom.

Police said the boy had tied a slipknot around his neck while on a bunk bed. Police investigators learned that Sergio had been upset about not getting a Christmas gift from his father, but they don't believe the boy intentionally killed himself.

Clinical psychologist Edward Bischof, of California, said children Sergio's age mimic risky behaviors they see on TV — such as wrestling or extreme sports — without realizing the dangers. He said TV appeared to be the stimulant in Sergio's case.

"I would think maybe this kid is trying something that he thinks fun to act out without having the emotional and psychological maturity to think the thing through before he acts on it," Bischof said.

Family members held a memorial for the boy Wednesday in the apartment complex activity center. Gustavo said the family is trying to put together enough money to send Sergio's body to Guatemala for burial.

"I don't think he thought it was real," Gustavo said of Saddam's hanging. "They showed them putting the noose around his neck and everything. Why show that on TV?"

[DWEarhart]

Also a 15 year old Indian girl.

In her words, "they hanged a patriot."

Madman to some.
Now, martyr to others.

[Alan Lynch]

Really interested to see if any of the TV folks try and defend showing images of the hanging. Because they'd be wrong.

[Paul McEnery]

This is one of those things that doesn't make sense to most people, but this is the way I think:

Magic is about setting forces in motion. In particular, it's about setting images in motion, and letting them work their magic in people's heads.

When it's positive, you give people Yoda in their heads, and that makes peoples lives better.

When it's negative, you pump this shit into people's heads, and you get disaster.

Anyone who's ever had a friend kill themselves feels the barrier between themselves and death grow thinner. And we start to think it's something we could actually do. And it's one more thing we have to fight.

And then this. Surprise. The death of this fucker leads to the death of lots more people. That's how it works.

*sighs*

[Calybos]

This, more than any other reason, is why TV stations should run nonstop porn 24 hours a day.

If you're going to imitate what happens on screen.....

[BlairH]

Anyone who's ever had a friend kill themselves feels the barrier between themselves and death grow thinner. And we start to think it's something we could actually do. And it's one more thing we have to fight.

I respectfully disagree on the strongest possible terms.

[PatrickG]

It was an important historical event. To deny access to the image would be irresponsible.

However, I think it should have been telegraphed more.

And I think it's irresponsible for parents or family to show their impressionable children or adults things like this.

My mother has acid reflux and a heart condition and sleep disorders. Things like Jurassic Park are deeply upsetting to her. It doesn't make it a bad movie. It doesn't mean it shouldn't be shown on television. But I wouldn't push her into watching it because it had some significance as a moment in blockbuster film history.

Likewise, Saddam's execution is historically significant. It shouldn't be censored but I would verbally chastise people for exposing children to it. But I wouldn't stop them either.

But y'know what? I haven't seen it yet and I don't plan to.

[shades of eternity]

yesh

moron's

even if you were on his side (and I am most decidedly not), you can do more alive then dead.

[Mac Danny]

While this is sad. part of me wants to put one point in the "Win" column for Evolution.

Anyone who sees a guy get hanged and thinks it might be fun is stupid, just stupid.

[Puma]

While this is sad. part of me wants to put one point in the "Win" column for Evolution.

Anyone who sees a guy get hanged and thinks it might be fun is stupid, just stupid.

I have to agree, while its a tragedy for the family, this was a ten year old who should have a concept of death;most kids do by that age. He just watched someone die by hanging so he goes and tries it himself? stupid.

[Tages]

I have to agree, while its a tragedy for the family, this was a ten year old who should have a concept of death;most kids do by that age. He just watched someone die by hanging so he goes and tries it himself? stupid.

I think Doc Kramer would be a good person to ask on this, but I've read that it's fairly common for pre-adolescent boys to mock-hang themselves, tying a noose and all but not stepping off. It's sort of a way to test their own mortality I guess.

And of course there are tons of pre-ads and teens who actually do hang themselves with someone present to stop or save them as a cry for help/desperate plea for attention.

[Puma]

[QUOTE=Tages;4199016]I think Doc Kramer would be a good person to ask on this, but I've read that it's fairly common for pre-adolescent boys to mock-hang themselves, tying a noose and all but not stepping off. It's sort of a way to test their own mortality I guess.

QUOTE]

weird





ten

[Winslow]

I think Doc Kramer would be a good person to ask on this, but I've read that it's fairly common for pre-adolescent boys to mock-hang themselves, tying a noose and all but not stepping off. It's sort of a way to test their own mortality I guess.

weird





ten

It does explain why many biologists think the Y chromosome will eventually become extinct.

[Huh?]

Really interested to see if any of the TV folks try and defend showing images of the hanging. Because they'd be wrong.

Why would they be wrong? The way I see this is that people are going to react to different images differently. A grown up that is going to commit suicide because he saw it on TV needs therapy. A child with the same problem needs a parent. It is not the media's job to be either of the two.

[Winslow]

Why would they be wrong? The way I see this is that people are going to react to different images differently. A grown up that is going to commit suicide because he saw it on TV needs therapy. A child with the same problem needs a parent. It is not the media's job to be either of the two.

While it's certainly not the medias "job" to be a parent.

Ther ARE ethical reasons NOT to broadcast an execution.