Adam Lanza’s struggle with mental illness will be discussed on a documentary airing tonight on, Feb. 19, on PBS titled “Raising Adam Lanza.” According to a Feb. 18 Yahoo! report, the mother of the Newtown shooter, Nancy Lanza, was not in denial about her son’s mental disabilities, as many have accused.
Adam shot his mother four times while she slept in her bed at home in December before heading to Sandy Hook Elementary School where he shot 20 children, six adults and himself. Much blame has been pointed at Nancy for her son’s actions, especially once it came to light that the weapons used were registered to her and she brought him to the target range to practice shooting with her.
However, those close to the Lanza family report that Nancy had been working hard to help Adam deal with his disabilities since he was diagnosed with sensory integration disorder as a small child and Asperger’s as a middle schooler. Friends say Nancy’s life revolved around his care.
Adam became very withdrawn and Nancy used her interest in the shooting range as a way to bond with him and bring him out of his shell. She was working hard to encourage independence I her son, who was 20 at the time of the Newtown tragedy, by leaving him home alone for longer periods of time.
Nancy Lanza’s friends refer to her as the “forgotten victim” of the Sandy Hook shooting.
Comments