Stunning: 8-year-old May Be Charged With Double Homicide in Arizona

• Christian will be sentence in two months. He has been living with his relatives since the murders. The reason given to why Christian may have killed his father is that from what has been said by Christian, his older brother and psychiatrists is that Christian put a limit on how many spankings he would tolerate from his father. Christian's Sentencing: The sentence will include intensive probation, counseling and possible time in juvenile detention. Christian, an avid hunter, also faces restrictions on his life, including a weapons prohibition and a ban on attending school unless psychiatrists conclude he is not dangerous. Roca said the boy faces evaluations at ages 12 and 15 and before his 18th birthday. He will not be charged with his father's murder, for Tim Roman's murder Christian is charged with negligent homicide. His father and Step-Mother were cleared of any suspicion of child abuse. I have a feeling this will not be the last time we read about Christian.

• While everyone is still specultating and wondering who did what....why were the local Police allowed to interrogate an 8 year old child. Nuture and love a child and he/she will be happy. Physically and verbaly abuse the child and he/she could snap! Having him locked up as he is, at such a young age.......do you feel that he truly feels loved by anyone? I think that someone was correct. He had been treated badly by both Dad and the Stepmother, (WHERE WAS SHE AND WHO CLEANED UP THE CRIME SCENE?)after visiting his Bilogical Mother...he might have found a way out of his prison.Tiffany goes on and on about her two little girls with Romero, but not one word of kindness is every expressed about Christian. Her own father wants to take his only source of income...Social Security away from Chrisitan. They sound like a very strange family! Teaching a child to kill, then abuse him/her and you could have a child go SNAP! The officers that interrogated him could have convinced him that he did commit the crimes. Who would really knows...they took his Civil Rights away from him. I pray for this little boy every night. I too have grand children his age. They wouldn't even know what to do with a gun, much less kill Prarie Dogs. Please don't abuse this little boy any further. I pray that someone is showing him love and kindness. His father should be on trial for teaching a baby to use a weapon!

• Ya know children should not be made forced to learn how to use a real gun. The approicate age for a BB gun is 10 and up. There should be a law on real guns like 16 and up for hunting and not in the city limits, however the child didn't commit this horroible crime . Yes it was the step mom, she wanted out and she got out by again abusing the child . Where was CPS and the law for him? Why did his father allow all of these spankings (asault)? Lets see what happens when he is out, my God please protect him from the others.

• This same group of people committed the same fraudulent acts against Joel K Barr. The whole story, "The Saga of Joel K Barr" can be read, along with photos and court documents @; www.joelbarrsstory.com. Thank you. P. V. deSpencer

• I live in that town...I know the cops here...and I have the distinct feeling that they scared that little boy into confessing something that he didn't do...without his parents or a lawyer present which I think should be illegal if it isn't already. I think he found his father and the Romans man there but did not kill them.

• Police have not mentioned this possibility. From what I saw of the boy's interview I got the impression that one man could have shot the other and then shot himself (this is more common), but the father might not have been dead yet because the boy said he had blood on his face and was shaking. Maybe when he said he wanted to "stop his suffering" it was because of the father's condition of being almost dead but still suffering (the murder or suicide failed), so he shot him more times like you might do to an animal that is still alive after being traumatically hit by a car. This seems to make more sense to me, and prints on the gun, residue on an adult's hand, and the direction and height of shooting from an adult level would be easy to confirm. Strange the boy would say shaking, bloody face, suffering - that's hard to make up, so hopefully when they finish their investigation the answer will be clear and he won't be guilty. I find it hard to believe that an 8-year-old boy could pull this off with two adult men and neither adult get away either. Homicide/suicide by the adults is more common and seems much more likely to me.

• We are not hearing about the STEP-MOTHER! Does she have a sold motive? What is her name? Is this boy covering up for her? Was gun powder residue or splattered blood found on his clothes? This is a possible false confession due to interagation questioning while this third grader was in shock! Can this boy load and reload a .22 cal. rifle and keep his composure shooting at "two" men (one being his father) while in shock? While the boys prints were found on the rifle the shooter could have worn gloves and the boy might have used this rifle in the past.

• Please Horta stop! Personally coming from a family with a history of abuse and having read much on the subject - stop already with the "not capable of harming any child, not capable of harming a fly". I think I'm going to be sick. Christian needs help, true, but doesn't need to be tried as an adult.

• You people are unbelievable when it comes to that kids punishment! A family friend of the Romans i know Tim was not capable of harming any child! This boy MURDERED two men. Their families must live their lives without a dad, husband and son. How dare you believe he should get off with anything less then being tried as an adult.

• My hat is off to Ms. Judy Hayes of the Independent; I cannot remember when I have had the pleasure of such a well written and detailed account. You'd have to go way back to the 30's or 40's to fine this level of detail. Normally when something like this occurs, I'll have to search for days through the world's news outlets, being careful to steer clear of the big four since they usually suck at small town fair; surprisingly, BBC does a pretty good job since they are unaffiliated. Soobs, thanks for the link.

• "The link you provided was published 12 hours AFTER I posted the link to the NYT article;" AZCentral has had several articles, since the bodies were found. And no, I don't believe anyone checks just one source for information....at least I'd hope not. I just don't consider the NYT to be a "fact based" newspaper, but that is probably my own intolerance of them. My point being that you said you didn't see any information regarding the roomer, but I know I read that earlier. Also, where the bodies were located was known, at least by me, when you wrote your post. Again, it could be the result of me reading different articles than you. What to do with children who kill....good question. My answer depends on the why, when it comes to children this young. If it turns out that this kid is "evil"...something missing, then by all means, lock him up until he's 18 (that's as long as he'll be incarcerated as a juvenile) but if there was any abuse in the background...physical or psychological, then I think he needs therapy as opposed to incarceration. That may be the mother in me speaking...with a 15, 7 and 5 year old, I just can't see an otherwise "normal" child doing this without some provocation.

• Soobs, your second link has a lot of information from the child's court appearance, some of which conflicts with earlier reports. The link you provided was published 12 hours AFTER I posted the link to the NYT article; this was, and is, a developing story, as I noted. Does anyone go to a single source for news anymore? Not me; as I said previously, I linked to the NYT article because it had more information in one place, succinctly presented, than I'd seen elsewhere at that time. Larkin, I don't know why you're so hostile about my posting as "Anon". Everyone who posts without using a full, real, name is anonymous here, whether they use a nickname or some form of a "real" name. I'm just more straight-forward about it and choose to acknowledge that by posting as "Anon". Some blogs require people to register and adopt an identity. This one doesn't. No one has an obligation to use a name you approve of, and why would you care one way or another? My point? Well, first to share new (at the time) information as it had been reported in the media, and second to raise the ultimate question: What do we do with children who commit these crimes? Those seem like the kinds of reasons anybody might have for posting on a blog like this one. I guess you disagree, but hey, that's OK, too.

• "I'm not sure why you think you're a better source, Soobs, or why you're so certain that you know details others don't. The boy's father has been widely reported as being married to the child's stepmother; I haven't yet seen anything that suggested that the boarder was married at all." Again, you'd find more information if you search other sources. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...johns1111.html http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20190155&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6 The gag order was issued after information was printed in the news.

• So much for the gag order by the Judge, the kids full name and date of birth can now be found online in a video posted on some news station located in Phoenix. The BBC reported (according to the NY Times) that his dad was outside but the kid went upstairs to shoot the border first, this guy was actually on the phone talking to his wife and she heard his muffled sounds as he was shot once in the chest and then a second shot was heard by her over the phone as the boy reloaded and shot the guy again in the head. Then, the kid went after dad downstairs as he ran into the house at the sound of gunfire; you could only imagine what happened next. Eight years old or not, the boy had to reload his single shot 22 long rifle while carrying out his deadly deed, I've been in the Army for 22 years, it isn't that easy to calmly shoot somebody and have to reload on top of it, takes a lot of confidence by way of training and control.

• What's your point, Anon? None of us know what happened. I have enough first hand knowledge of the way LE works, having served as a print journalist for many years, to be skeptical about the kind of material that is leaked in these cases. Small towns are NOT equipped to deal with this sort of situation and they are likely to really make a real dog's dinner of it if they insist on handling it themselves. By their own admission they've already done enough to give a reasonably competent defense attorney a field day. Though Soobs uses her nickname and I only use my first name on this forum, both of us were regulars on Steve's previous gig, and neither of "hide" behind an anonymous moniker. If you mean what you say, why won't you stand behind it?

• Uhh, Larkin and Soobs, the only information available right now is only supplied by the "gendarmes and associates" or leaked. Unless you were there yourselves, of course. I'm not sure why you think you're a better source, Soobs, or why you're so certain that you know details others don't. The boy's father has been widely reported as being married to the child's stepmother; I haven't yet seen anything that suggested that the boarder was married at all. The NYT citation was the one I used because it the story was a single source with the greatest detail. With any developing story, information changes, is developed over time, and subject to interpretation. That's kind of the way media works, and why those of us who are interested watch these stories as they unfold. BTW, I've known eight year olds who were certainly physically capable of shooting adults - it's potentially a whole lot easier than shooting small, fast-moving rodents, for instance, especially if the adults are too stunned to react. I just never knew an eight year old who thought it was a good idea to actually try it.

• Frankly, the first mistake is READING the NYTimes. The FATHER was shot first, in the house. The BOARDER was outside, speaking with his wife (if the leaked information is to be believed.)

• I don't care if it was reported in the NY Times, they are only as good as the information that is fed to them. They have no way to fact check at this point. How do we KNOW events occurred in this manner? Because the police say the child told them so? I have personally viewed taped interviews that police conducted and then seen a totally different account given by the same officer in a courtroom. Who knows what the he!! happened there? But two men killed by a child with a small calibre rifle strains the credulity. You can invoke Ed Kemper all you want, but unless they get some kind of investigation not dependent on the local gendarmes and associates, it's unlikely that the real story will ever be revealed.

• <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/us/11child.html?hp">According to the NY Times</a>, the child shot the boarder first as he came up stairs in the house, then called his father into the home and shot him. The father was talking on the phone to his wife when he heard the boy calling to him. He was shot on the porch as he went to go into the house. The weapon "was a single action .22 caliber hunting rifle that requires reloading before each shot". Each man was shot in the head and chest, and each, according to this report, was shot "at least four times", meaning that the boy had to eject and reload at least eight times during the event. According to the Times report, the boy was at first considered a witness, but quickly told the police he was the shooter. He had been spanked the night before for some problem at school, but the NY Times article does not tie this to any (or any other) known abuse, and states that the child did not cite this as a reason for the killings. Dad had taught him to kill prairie dogs, a rather smaller target. Suffice to say, the child didn't want either dad or the boarder around any more. It seems to me the problem isn't whether you try this child as an adult or not, but what you do with him. His problem-solving skills aren't going to improve over time - any more than Ed Kemper's did.

• I was watching news coverage of this story and suddenly thought, (using 8 yr old think) "If Dad is gone, I get to go live with Mom." It could be just that simple, since the mom had visited from out of state the weekend before. Killing the second man could've been out of panic or if the kid is diabolical, to get rid of a potential witness. But, I have to admit, as a former abused kid, my very first thought was revenge for some form of abuse. Believe me, that can happen without anybody in the town having a clue.

• My sympathies & prayers to both the Romero & Romans Families. I remember Tim Romans. I use to see him at all his daughters basketball games, coaching them and others. Teaching them the techniques of basketball, how to improve, and no matter what you face in the game or in life you never give up. He was a great person & he will be greatly missed by all his family, friends, & those he coached! RIP Tim! The kid involved is facing some hardships ahead of him, my prayers go to him as well. Even though he may not have committed the crime or if he did. He is the only one police seem to be dawning on. May the Lord see everyone's fault and may the law get the RIGHT person responsible for the tragic deaths!

• An 8 yr. old boy premeditating and shooting two grown and able bodied men ? Surely one of them would have been able to escape or overpower the kid. No record of kid displaying problems ? Sounds pretty implausible to me. Where's the stepmother in all of this ? And what happened when the biological mother visited from Mississippi the weekend before ? All sounds suspicious in this small town environment. I'd start looking first at the step mom, and her relationships to the child, the neighbors, and to the police and all the town authorities, including the judge. Then I'd also examine the same with the biological mother. It's time to bring in the FBI or some external impartial authorities to check this out and find out the truth.

• My son is 14, a gifted cellist and at a high school for performing arts. (We do duck hunt, but he is not particularly interested.) I'm not sure at his age that he would understand the ramifications of shooting another human being; and he is somewhat more intelligent than your average bear. ADULTS frequently don't understand what it means to shoot another human being. This kid is, by constitutional law, presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The hamfisted manner in which the local small town prosecutor and LE are handling this is very likely to blow up in their faces. Even if the child is a little sociopath (and there hasn't been any indication to that yet), this is a situation that will strain the bounds of the legal system in many ways, and its unlikely that they are equipped to handle it. JMHO.

• I, too, am from a rural area, and our entire family (five children) likes to target shoot. My husband used to hunt during most seasons, and still does, on occasion, take our youngest son hunting for deer, which we make into jerky. Our children have grown up around guns, but I don't think any of them, at age eight, could have gotten to both the gun and the ammunition without someone being aware of what the child was doing. We have locked cabinets and drawers where these items are kept, and trigger locks on several of the guns, as well. A few safeguards and a little oversight goes a long way toward responsible gun ownership. Yes, some people are born "bad," as Kevin alludes to, and time will tell if that is the case here. But I also think the adults, or those who should have been acting like adults, in this child's life failed him, with tragic results.

• "There are actually families out there who do not teach their 5-year-olds how to shoot a 22, ride a horse, participate in round-ups, & go deer hunting during deer season. Wow." This child was 8. Besides that fact, what is wrong with riding a horse, participating in roud-ups, and going huting? My children don't hunt, neither does their father. But he was taught to shoot a gun at 9, by his grandfather, a police man. The man also qualified for the Olympics in target shooting. My husband was taught safety, and his father hunted every year. We have no guns in our home, but I am not opposed to anything that you have stated above (except teaching a FIVE year old to shoot.) But my kids also know that meat doesn't "magically" appear at a grocery store. Hypocrits. <strong>NOTE FROM STEVE: Thanks, Soobs. I'd used a shotgun, rifle, and handguns by the time I was 8, and ridden horses as well. There's nothing wrong with any of that, and it is to be expected in rural areas.</strong>

• I've had an education reading the comments. There are actually families out there who do not teach their 5-year-olds how to shoot a 22, ride a horse, participate in round-ups, & go deer hunting during deer season. Wow.

• I have an 8-year-old son. He's in 3rd grade. I disagree that he would not be capable of understanding what he was doing. I do think he might not understand or foresee ALL of the ramifications and consequences of his actions. But I think that an 8-year-old is developmentally far enough along to understand that picking up a gun and pointing it and firing it is not "playing." He could accidentally shoot a gun thinking it wasn't loaded. But not twice, with two different people in two different rooms. My son has a temper and can get physical. He's never used it on me, but I could see him -- particularly at this age --as being capable of acting out in anger. Of being impulsive. Of not thinking through the consequences. Of just wanting to show his anger. I'm not saying 8-year-olds everywhere are murdering time bombs. I'm just saying that 8 is not too young to consciously choose an act of violence, but perhaps too young to understand what will follow.

• "No, I think you have ask why an 8 year old had a gun in the first place, and then how he knew how to use it??" It's been reported that his father took him hunting, showed him how to hunt. It follows that he'd have access to a gun, and that he'd know how to use it.

• It's a terrible thing to say, but we (society) may have a young Ed Kemper on our hands.

• No, I think you have ask why an 8 year old had a gun in the first place, and then how he knew how to use it?? He may've just thought he was playing.

• I can't believe they interviewed an eight-year-old murder suspect without an adult in the room to represent him. How the hell do you explain legal rights in a way that a child so young can understand?

• The dad taught him how to shoot and hunt. The boy killed praire dogs, so he knew what death was. They probably have gunshot residue tests from his hands and other evidence.

• The police chief is saying that they are looking into abuse of the child. However, the article (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/11/08/20081108stjohns.html) also states police are pushing to charge the child as an adult. An ADULT! This child is 8 years old...think about it. I have a 7 year old in 1st grade. At most, this child could be in 2nd grade. Where are we as a society, that we would even contemplate charging an 8 year old as an adult? The "co-worker" also rented a room at the house. I'm sure we WILL find abuse of this child. It's a very sad case, but the child needs psychological help. He doesn't need to be tried as an adult.

• Abuse was the first thing that entered my mind. Maybe he'd had enough of whatever was going on and put an end to it? Or, he is just wired wrong? Eight year old can be sociopaths. This will be something to follow, for sure.

• According to the AP, mom lives in Mississippi and had visited over the weekend, returning after the shootings. The father had full custody; there's a stepmother who wasn't home at the time of the killings. The article also says that there were domestic violence calls at the house previously; the <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iG_nB7rdOr3TiaL5ph3YDR5qNNTAD94ATRLG0">AP story</a> says that police are looking into abuse as a motive.

• I agree this will be interesting to see what the facts are, and if the interview with the child was tape recorded or not. The Fox story is not their own reporting; it's the Associated Press.

• this sounds like bullshit to me, overzealous cops perchance?? <strong>NOTE FROM STEVE: Man, you gotta wonder. I can't recall the last time I heard a story like this.</strong>

• It will be interesting to see how this plays out. (I'd give the Fox television an "F" for their story; what a piss-poor example of journalism that was.) First question that springs to mind is "Where's Mom?" One has to wonder if a jury would believe that an 8-year-old child had the intellectual ability to understand just what he was doing in this instance. If the prosecutor insists on going forth with charging the child as an adult, the kid is likely to get off all together. (And perhaps he ought to; he is, after all, innocent until proven guilty.)

• This is the wrong Tim Romans. <strong>NOTE: Fixed. Thanks.</strong>

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