AIBU to be really worried about this person’s psychopathic tendencies (trigger warni

[SpoilsburyToastGirl]

Please be gentle. I know a young person aged 17 who I’m related to distantly via marriage, his mum told me today that he had deliberately killed a cat in a really violent way that I don’t really want to type as it’s so upsetting. It was a very personal way to do it though and they admitted it made them feel ‘excited.’ There was no obvious prelude that led to this, although they are under CAHMS for mental health issues.

I’m so upset, and their mum has no idea what to do. Do we report this to the police? What will happen to the young person? I have known this person since they were 2 and they have had a good upbringing and no abuse that I’m aware of. How the hell can we come back from this? I don’t want them near my small children or my cat and I’m so sad for that poor animal that died in such a horrific way.

This is very disturbing!

CatOwned I don't think most professionals agree on if they are or aren't to be honest. I see them as different personally and I especially see psychopathy as different as you can't cure it or even help dull the 'symptoms' with medication like you could with say schizophrenia or depression. You can't give someone empathy with any drug or stop them being liars. Based on that I see it as a personality disorder. But that is just my view others will think differently.

I don't see psychopathy as a bad thing either. Most successful ceos are psychopaths. Its why they are successful. It just gets bad press when one of them kills another person and everyone assumes they are the same. To be fair everyone would get a low score on a psychopathic test and has a or numerous traits, you just don't score high enough to be classed as one. It's a bit like a spectrum like autism in that sense. Everyone appears on it, just some have it worse than others. That's not their fault.

Most people who kill animals don't go on to become serial killers Sophie but good contribution - that'll help the OP loads.

You are trying to brush it under the carpet OP because you literally asked what will happen to them if you ring the police, which implies that there's an answer people can give that will cause you to not ring the police, ie brush it under the carpet.

The police can get him mental health treatment too, they aren't going to just throw him in a dungeon. I'm pretty sure they'd have better luck/priority than you anyway. And his need for treatment doesn't change that he's committed a crime. When people commit crimes, you ring the police, unless you are trying to cover it up.

If they didn't do anything when she rang, you need to ring too. There is a violent criminal on the loose. It sounds like you're struggling to take this in and I'm sure it's hard but that's the situation. There is a violent criminal on the loose, you don't think "what will happen to him" or "maybe there's another option", you get the police and you keep at it until he's been arrested. It sounds like you've known him since he was small and this is upsetting you a lot, and that it's an upsetting thing that he did, and his mum is your friend and obviously this is affecting her a lot, and I'm sympathetic about that, but only if you do what's right now.

Oliversmumsarmy oh god yes I never said the kid was harmless. Just pointing out he isn't a psychopath. He's dangerous yes but being a psychopath doesn't make you dangerous.

He does need help though, although difficult to tell if he is beyond it or not.

Barbaro don't compare psychopathy to autism thanks! Or to personality disorders!

barbaro What are you on about comparing autistic spec disorders with psychopathic traits ?

It's a bit like a spectrum like autism in that sense. Everyone appears on it, just some have it worse than others. That's not their fault

That’s just completely wrong, not everyone is on the AS.

Would she be willing to throw him out?

Barbaro isn't saying the disorders are comparable, just trying to demonstrate there is a range of severity, if I have picked it up correctly.

I’m shocked that mental health support isn’t considering him a risk to others tbh. He has killed a living creature with no remorse and it is not uncommon for psychopaths and serial killers to start with animals.

I would be taking him straight to the doctors and considering whether he needed immediate psychological intervention. The fact that he has done this without mentioning it to anybody first is also another major concern

I’m not saying he will murder or harm someone. What I am saying is that if he lacks remorse and feels excited by it he could.

Call the police if there is no mental health support. CAMHS (as are all mental health areas) are in crisis. This cannot go overlooked. His mum has done her best but, if CAMHS won’t or can’t help, a police intervention must happen, for everyone’s sake. My son is 17 and suicidal. He self harms but, he literally wouldn’t hurt a fly. He had a go at me at the weekend for catching buzzards (flying in the house) and flinging them out again. I explained they can “dry out” overnight and he suggested putting water down for them, in case they’re stuck in the house!

This young man needs help and quickly.

I would not be able to sleep at night if I did not report him myself to police and RSPCA

Look, the police will have been informed via CAHMS, reporting the crime again serves no purpose. They will deal with that side of things.

Right now you need emergency MH care. It could be a psychotic episode which ends abruptly and never comes back, it could be a sign of deep and abiding disturbance, either way he needs emergency care right away, same as if he had a broken leg. If you don't have a crisis number to call, you could start with 111 (if available in your area), who can escalate for you.

Although CAHMS have said they will report to the police I'll do it too then. I assumed they would have already done that given that we rang them yesterday.

I can assure you all that I am not brushing anything under the carpet.

God, there's a definite lack of critical-thinking ability being demonstrated on this thread.

I have no idea what you should do op but I think what I'd do is alert the police, social services and rspca. Very scary.

The police need to be involved ASAP. If this was one of my neighbours and you knew he committed this crime and didn't report it to the police I'd be furious with you. He may well need MH support however this is a crime and could easily escalate as he shows zero remorse

What a horrendous situation to find yourself in and I’m so sad for the cat who has suffered at his hands.

Please do report it to the police. This could escalate way out of your control and you need professionals on board. PPs are correct that it’s very common for people who harm other people to start with animals first. That alone is cause enough to contact the police, let alone the animal(s) who suffer a painful and frightening death before it escalates to that point. He simply isn’t safe to be walking the streets, or living in a house with a young child and other animals.

YANBU. Killing animals like this is a common way for psychopaths to begin. They then work up to killing people. I'd ring the police. Surely killing a cat like this a criminal offence?

If I received this information about a family member, friend or acquaintance I would inform the police.

The police work with MH services all the time.

You're more likely to get quick, urgent MH help through forensic services than CAMHS, so calling the police will speed up the process.

The M25 cat killer, formerly called the Croydon Cat Killer is now called the UK Cat Killer because the scumbag is killing pets and other creatures throughout the UK, not just within the M25.

So, it could be the same person, or could be copying Pooboy as he is called by SNARL.

Either way it needs reporting because as people say, these people don't just stop at one killing and often move on to humans. If you don't want to report it please PM me, I would be happy to do it for you. If he needs treatment then he should get it, if not then he needs what he deserves.

Well, he has committed a crime, that involves violence, sadism, and from what you say, maybe a sexual gratification element, so I would have thought CAHMS would need to do something. Reporting it to the police or RSPCA, in terms of helping his mental health may help. Any prosecution would mean looking at a suitable sentence if found guilty, and that would mean consideration of mental health - perhaps treatment.

Also, if he feels no remorse, it could help for him to be scared stiff by being prosecuted, and have consequences to his actions. If nothing is done, if he felt no remorse but found it “exciting”, then Id say chances are he’ll do it again. Then it may be less exciting and he’ll need something more “interesting”.

On a purely moral approach, I think he needs reporting. This behaviour often escalates. It is not true that every little boy who pulls the wings off flies will end up killing people, although it is probably true that every psychopath who has killed has started by wing pulling. Then moving on to cats and dogs. I would query whether this is the first time he’s done something like this.

The boy's not well. He needs medical attention as soon as you can get it. Call 111 or the GP and say you need an urgent appointment.

The police know. Re-reporting to police or RSPCA won't achieve anything in addition. Right now the lad needs professional care, today.

Cruelty and torture of animals is a massive red flag and an almost 100% early indicator of future violence against people - usually women.

Almost without exception, the worst murderers started out torturing and killing animals as youths.

This is very scary and very serious. He has committed a crime so he must be reported to the RSPCA and the police. The sooner he is on the radar of law enforcement, the better. Because it is almost guaranteed that within the next few years he will escalate this violence towards people.