Most Dangerous Teenagers Reacting to Life Sentences.

These young offenders committed shocking crimes that rocked communities and made headlines due to a variety of reasons and circumstances.

Brenda Ann Spencer

Sixteen-year-old Brenda Spencer kept police at bay, firing from her house across the street from the school at anything that moved. The name Brenda Ann Spencer will always conjure up images of tragedy. Spencer committed a horrific act on January 29 1979, shocking San Diego to its core. Spencer who lived directly across the street from the Grover Cleveland Elementary School started shooting at students and staff there, with a 22 semi-automatic rifle. She’d been given this rifle for Christmas. Eight children, one police officer, and two adults were killed and injured during her shooting rampage. Spencer’s only response when asked why she committed this heinous act was “I Don’t Like Mondays”. It was a horrifying remark that has since gained notoriety and served as the basis for the Boomtown Rats hit song — I Don’t Like Mondays. In the end, Spencer was found guilty of murder and other charges and she received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. At the time of sentencing, she showed no reaction to the sentence of 25 years. No matter how one feels about the situation Brenda Ann Spencer’s actions had a tragic and profound effect on a great number of lives. She’ll probably remain in prison for life because the state of California doesn’t grant parole to murderers.

Joshua Phillips

Many people experience fear and sadness when they hear the name Joshua Phillips. He brutally murdered Maddie Clifton, an eight-year-old neighbor in November of 1998 and kept her body hidden under his bed for a week. The senseless act of violence stunned and devastated the entire community. The sentencing of Phillips who was only 14 at the time sparked debate over its fairness. He was sentenced to life in prison without the chance for parole despite being tried as an adult which sparked a contentious discussion about the proper punishment for juvenile offenders. He showed no emotion at the sentence. Since then Phillips has filled numerous appeals claiming that his sentence was unconstitutional in the light of decisions made by the Supreme Court regarding the sentencing of juveniles. Any offenders including Phillips had their sentences resentenced. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 2017 decision that mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders violated the eighth amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Phillips received a new sentence in prison in 2020 with possibility of parole in 25 years. Despite the controversy surrounding this decision, it does raise issues regarding how to deal with young people who commit heinous crimes. In this case, one may ask how does one forgive someone who kills a young girl and sleeps with her body under the bed. I mean she was only eight years old.

Alyssa Bustamante

Convicted of first-degree murder, Bustamante could not have been executed because of her age. Teenage Missourian Alyssa Bustamante gained notoriety in 2009 after committing a heinous crime. Elizabeth Olten, a young neighbor who was nine years old was brutally murdered by the 15 year old and buried in a shallow grave in the woods. The small town of Saint Martins was rocked by the crime and was in shock. The sentencing of Bustamante was hotly contested and her trial received extensive media coverage. Many argued that she should receive a lighter sentence because she was too young to fully comprehend the seriousness of her actions, others however thought she ought to be punished severely for what she did and held accountable. The murdered Elizabeth Olten obviously has no say in the matter anymore. Bustamante ultimately received a life sentence with a 35-year parole eligibility. The judge’s harsh punishment was justified by the fact that she showed no remorse and that the crime was premeditated. She showed absolutely no emotion when she was sentenced either. The tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of Elizabeth Olten serves as a reminder of the terrible violent acts and effects crime has and the value of holding everyone accountable for their deeds regardless of age. It also calls into question how well the criminal justice system works to rehabilitate young offenders and to deter future crimes.

Kip Kinkel

In 1998 a troubled boy named Kip Kinkel made headlines when he went on a shooting rampage at his high school in Springfield Oregon. Two student died as a result of the incident and 25 others were hurt. Kinkle was only 15 years old when the shooting occurred but due to the severity of his actions, he was tried in a court of law as an adult. Kinkle’s history of mental illness and prescriptions for depression and anxiety medication were made public during his trial. Odd how big Pharma psychoactive drugs are behind a lot of these killings, in addition he had a fascination with explosives and weapons and had been expelled from school for carrying a gun to class. Kinkel was convicted of murder and attempted murder despite his troubled past and he was given a 111 year prison term without the chance of parole. One of the most severe sentences ever given to a juvenile offender in the United States. When he was led away after his sentencing, some reports say he muttered “I’m sorry”. Kinkels kicks sparked a national discussion about the proper response to violent juvenile vendors. Given his age and mental health issues, some people claim that Kinkel’s sentence was too severe, others thought that because of his heinous crimes he deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison .

Jon Venables and Robert Thompson

In 1993, two ten-year-old boys named Jon Venables and Robert Thompson made international headlines for committing one of the most shocking crimes in recent British history. In Merseyside England they were found guilty of kidnapping torturing and killing a two-year-old James Bulger. Jon Venables and Thompson were found guilty and given an indefinite detention owner at Her Majesty’s pleasure, following a highly publicized trial. This meant that they would remain in custody until it was determined that they posed no threat to the general public. The boy’s sentencing sparked a national uproar, with many demanding that they be tried as adults and sentenced to life in prison. Venables and Thompson despite their youth exhibited a troubling lack of regret for their deeds. In their interviews, social workers, and psychologists expressed no remorse for James or his family and instead called the murder fun. To shield them from vigilante attacks, Venables and Thompson were both released from custody over the years and given new identities. They’ve both however been called back into custody on different occasions due to violations of the conditions of their release or suspicions of committing new crimes. The sentencing of Venables and Thompson and the responses that followed it are still up for debate and discussion because their case is still one of the most shocking and divisive in British legal history.

Jesse Pomeroy

Boston was terrorized by the notorious American serial killer Jesse Pomeroy in the late 1800s. The catch he was only 14 when he started. When he committed his first murder at the age of just 14, he went on to kill at least two more children and brutally assault a number of other people over the course of the following two years. At the time, Pomeroy’s trial caused the sensation and the media dubbed him the Boston boy fiend. He was tried as an adult despite being a minor and was found guilty of murder. He was given death by hanging sentence from a judge but because of his age the sentence was later reduced to life in prison. The way Pomeroy reacted to his punishment was chilling, according to reports he displayed no remorse for his crimes and even teased the victim’s families in court. According to reports, Pomeroy grinned and said “I don’t care” as the judge handed down his sentence. Pomeroy’s unsettling behavior persisted while he was incarcerated, he reportedly delighted in telling other prisoners of about the specifics of his crimes and even made several attempts to flee the prison. Even though Pomeroy committed heinous crimes, some contended that his youth should have been considered when determining his sentence. Others argue that he deserved the severe punishment he received because of his lack of regret and continued dangerous behavior.

Mary Bell

In the 1960s, Mary Bell a notorious child killer horrified the world with her heinous deeds. Mary Bell who was born in 1957 in Newcastle Upon-Tyne England killed her first victim when she was just 10 years old. Afew months after killing three-year-old Brian Howe, she killed Martin Brown four by hanging him in a vacant home. After being apprehended, Mary Bell was tried and found for both murders. Many people demanded that she’d be imprisoned for life, which made her sentencing a very contentious issue. She would be detained for however long the authorities deemed necessary as a result of the judge’s decision to sentence her to detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure. When Mary Bell received her sentence, she reacted in defiance as she was being led away she allegedly stuck her tongue out at the judge and yelled “you’re a bastard”. She had displayed a radical and unpredictable behavior throughout the case, frequently giggling and laughing aloud. Mary Bell committed some of the most shocking and unsettling crimes in history despite her youth because of how heinous they were. Many find it hard to believe that that cute face hides so much evil.

Eric Smith

In 1993, a young New York boy named Eric Smith made headlines for committing a terrible crime. He brutally murdered a four-year-old, Derek Robbie at the age of 13 and dumped his body in a wooded area. The small town of Savannah was rocked by the crime and was in shock. Smith’s trial was widely covered and there was much discussion surrounding his punishment. Smith was ultimately given a nine year to life prison term, the judge gave him a harsh sentence because of his lack of remorse and the fact that the crime was premeditated. Smith expressed shock and disbelief in response to the sentence, he was devastated by the outcome because he had hoped for a lesser punishment. Many weren’t so sure why he thought the sentence would be lighter, it was a heinous crime after all. The tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of Derek Robbie serve as a reminder of the devastating effects of violent crime and the significant holding of everyone accountable for their actions regardless of age. The sentence sounded much too light for most people.

Jordan Brown

This one is a bit different, the accused showed remorse and has rebuilt his life. His name is Jordan Brown. In Pennsylvania in 2009,Jordan Brown then just 11 years old was charged with killing his father’s pregnant fiancée. Initially charged as an adult, Brown could have received a life sentence without the chance of parole if found guilty. Brown’s case was transferred to juvenile court after a protracted legal battle where he was found to be delinquent but not guilty of murder. Instead, he was found guilty of the lesser crime of involuntary manslaughter and given a lengthy juvenile detention sentence. Many people disagree with Brown’s conviction and sentencing, believing that an 11 year old shouldn’t be held accountable for such a serious crime. Throughout the trial and census, Brown insisted on his innocence and his family persisted in standing by him and advocating for his release. Brown was paroled out in 2016 after almost eight years in juvenile detention, he dedicated a significant portion of his time and attention to working on his education and personal growth and he was able to finish high school while he was being held. Brown is currently a free man and is putting effort into rebuilding his life.

Graham Young

Graham Young had a disturbing and deadly obsession with poison and how it affected the human body. His experiment started when he was just a teenager and as he got older he started poisoning his family and co-workers which resulted in the deaths of three people. Young rose to prominence as one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers in the 1960s and his crimes led to a life sentence. Young exhibited no remorse despite the seriousness of his crimes and remained fixated on his toxicology research while incarcerated. He even made an attempt to poison some of his fellow prisoners, furthering his reputation as a cold-blooded killer criminal. Scientists and psychologists have studied Young’s case to learn more about the minds of serial killers and how to stop similar crimes in the future. His obsession with poison and lack of compassion or regret are characteristics shared by many serial killers. To prevent these crimes from happening in the first place, it’s essential to understand the driving forces and mentality behind them. The legacy of Graham Young serves as a warning about the early detection and treatment of mental illness.