I just killed my dad - netflix documentary

[EatingWormsMichael]

Just watched it and felt very sorry for Anthony. He was failed by every adult in his life up until the murder.

His mum was clearly in a lot of pain too. I don't understand how she couldn't keep fighting for him though. She knew where the grandparents on his dad's side were. I'd have been on their doorstep every day.

I think she was just plain terrified of him. It obviously broke her heart leaving Anthony with him but if she didn’t leave he would have killed her. Just an awful situation to be in. I don wonder what the long-term impact of the abuse will have on Anthony. I hope he is doing ok.

He had totally shut down hadn't he? I felt like he looked like a different kid every time he was filmed. Very sad.

I know this gets bandied around Willy nilly but it's clear to me that the boy is autistic. I can spot it a mile away - my 30 year old has Aspergers. I've just watched it and he is so obviously on the spectrum.

Didn't know his own date of birth .
Didn't know his address.
Homeschooled .
Dad clearly hasn't a clue how to deal with him.
All very sad .

It was so sad. Everyone just left him there with that man. If they were all so terrified of him,how do they think the little boy would feel?

The mum's side of the family seemed to have a LOT of ongoing issues with abuse throughout the generations.

The lawyer guy was a sweetheart (and quite easy on the eye)

I disagree. The dad knew exactly what he was doing. He was isolating Anthony so he felt he had no one and had nowhere to go. If he knew his date of birth he might be able to somehow find out that he was a missing child and that his mum was still alive.

Abusive men like the dad thrive on control and for him Anthony was the ultimate prize and there was no way he was giving him up.

It's a horrific case.

The Dad was abusive and calculating.

Cross state custody issues cost a fortune and if you can’t afford a lawyer, you need to be very smart to navigate them.

Dad applied for a court order in his state without informing them of the current court order in the mother’s state.

Mum was also terrified of him.

Dad kept the child “home schooled” so that the child was completely isolated, which prevented anyone from raising an alarm, and also meant that the Mum had zero chance of finding him if she was still looking.

I started it thinking he was a total psychopath. Ended it in tears at the poor boy’s life and glad he was finally feeling some human feeling.

People who have experienced significant childhood trauma particularly during the years when attachments are formed can present in similar ways. I felt incredibly sorry for him, the abuse he - and others - suffered at the hands of that man was horrendous.

Anthony also spent time on remand. The US prison system is no joke. He grew up isolated and in terror of his father. I think that he was reserved and emotionless was not surprising.

Apparently, he is still in touch with his attorney, who posted a photo of Anthony on Instagram.

In his caption, Ambeau revealed that he joined Anthony and his family to watch the documentary together and received an "outpouring of support" in response to its release.

"Anthony is doing great. Living a peaceful life," wrote Ambeau. "He's working full time, finishing his GED, being exemplary in his duty to the court and probation, and doing regular counseling when he can manage the time and resources."

Yep I hadn't watched it all when I said that - that poor poor boy .
His poor mum .

So sad .

Just watched this. Started off like a PP and the DA thinking Anthony was a psychopath, devoid of emotion. But slowly it all unraveled. To see a tear and his trembling lip at the end was such a breakthrough. Thank goodness for lawyers like Jarrett Ambeau, his Insta makes interesting reading.

I hope Anthony does something great with his life.

I watched this yesterday after seeing this thread. That poor boy. He was so shut down - not sure it was autism - just severe trauma and a need to preserve himself.

Questions I was left with - where were his mums 2 other kids when she lived with his dad? - I think there is more to that story.

How can you leave your child with him noing he beat her.

How did step mum not intervene - how did she leave the child not being educated?

How could she leave his dad and leave the boy there without telling anyone.
(Stepmum put up with it until she learnt he lost his job then she left......didn't cover her in glory.)

I think this poor boy still has many challenges ahead. I wish him well.

I hope the lawyer really does feel for him and becomes a mentor and wasn't just in this for the glory.

I thought he had been diagnosed as autistic. I'm sure I saw that when I googled the case. I'll check.

I was wrong apparently. There was a title on a google search which mentioned autism, but no indication that he has this condition when I clicked on it. It's just as likley to be a trauma response.

I didn't really like the manipulative way that the programme makers told the story, but it was fascinating.

My heart broke for Anthony when in the police interview he was asked if he could write, and he answered 'yes I can write every letter in the alphabet'

The dad was clearly a terrible. terrible person- I don't think it's fair to assign any blame to the mother or the stepmother when they were dealing with that kind of monster.

Absolutely heart breaking story. Hope Anthony gets the happiness he so deserves.

It was a fascinating watch. I’m not sure if he’s autistic (and I have autistic kids) but I think his affect is a result of severe trauma.

It was so sad to see pics of a normal happy loving young boy up to the age of about 5 then the change into this blank, emotionless ‘robot’.

I think the dad was truly toxic and ruined the lives of all women (and by association the children) he was involved with. His misogyny and abuse went back to his own youth.

I’m so glad Anthony is doing well.