Tag Archives: Brent Brents

More Reader Response: if a kid is being abused…something needs to be done

Note from Amy: The following comment was sent by someone other than the first two readers regarding this thread started by the woman in Amsterdam:

This may be a more comprehensible translation:

” One always has a choice between good or evil, regardless of being a victim or not. If people didn’t have that choice half the world would be in jail. So this is complete nonsense.
To people like Brent Brents: begone, all you are is a financial burden to society.”

It could be turned around as well. It’s easy to say you always have a choice, if you yourself have not been growing up in a household where violence and rape is a daily routine.

I myself have been blessed with a very happy childhood. Being loved and being cared about was a normal every day situation for me. I was raised by parents who had certain values and standards. And as a result I turned out pretty normal (I think). I work hard and I try and be a good person. I’ve never committed a crime in my life nor am I planning to do so in the future.

I am not saying I would be a horrible serial killer if I had been raised by abusive parents. I’m saying the chances of me being a good person would be slimmer. I strongly believe an adult’s personality is the result of nature and nurture. You are born with certain personality traits and the development during your child and teen years shape the rest of your personality.

Two people might be born with an addictive personality. One grows up in a loving family, the other by an abusive one. One of those becomes a smoker, the other gets hooked on the thrill of committing crimes.

Then again, your parents being shipped off to jail and then having to live in foster homes and such might also be fairly traumatic.

We will never know if Brents actions could have been prevented by actively doing something about his home situation. But hell, if a kid is being abused by his parents I think we can all at least agree, something needs to be done about that.

Do not get me wrong: Brents SHOULD be in jail for the horrible things he has done. But it’s good that there’s a discussion on this website. It means people are actively thinking about the issue. Which means they might act when they see a child in need and perhaps even prevent that child from becoming abusive in their adulthood.

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Reader Reaction to Amsterdam Comment: Easy to say if you yourself are not a victim

Note from Amy: I received the following as a comment to this Diary of a Predator website, which is about the case of serial rapist Brent Brents. The comment was apparently a reaction to the reader who said she was interested in understanding perpetrators of violent crimes . Most of the comment was written in Dutch, so I put the English translation (per Go0gle Translate) beneath it:

For the Dutch lady: easy to say if you yourself are not a victim of this disgusting guy!

Voor de Nederlandse dame: makkelijk praten als je zelf niet een slachtoffer bent van deze walgelijke kerel!! Men heeft altijd een keuze tussen goed en kwaad, ongeacht of je zelf een slachtoffer was, immers als men dat niet had of heeft zit de halve wereld in de bak! Dus complete onzin.
Voor deze lui als Brent Brents wegwezen kost de maatschappij alleen maar geld.

(Translation: One always has a choice between good and evil, whether you were a victim yourself, after all, if one has not had or is half the world into the bin! So complete nonsense.
For these guys as Brent Brents now costs society only money.)

Dirma

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Amsterdam Reader: I am interested in understanding perpetrators of violent crimes

Note from Amy: It’s always gratifying to receive encouraging notes like the one below sent from the Netherlands to this Diary of a Predator website after the viewer saw the Paula Zahn show about the Brent Brents serial rapist case. She asks an evocative question at the end:

Dear Amy,

I saw the segment on Paula Zahn yesterday and couldn’t get you and Brents out of my mind. I frequently have heated discussions with my partner when I am interested in understanding perpetrators of violent crimes, particularly crimes against women. All too often we are confused with being “soft” or “sympathetic.”

You are the first person I have encountered, other than Sr. Mary Prejean, who has a religious motivation, that wants to try understand perpetrators. I agree with the statement “hate the sin, but not the sinner.”

Bravo on your efforts! Where were all the Christians when he (Brent Brents) was being abused?

Sincerely, Theresa

Time: July 13, 2013 at 6:42 am

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Reader: “Sociopath” should not be used as a moral weakness

A reader from Edmonton, Alberta sent the following comment to this Diary of a Predator website:

Firstly, Amy I would like to commend you on your work. I saw the story on Investigative Discovery. I hope that you can pass onto Brent Brents that I do not believe he is a monster.

I do think believe mental health issues need to be addressed more than anything. The word “Sociopath” should not be used as a moral weakness. It should be seen as an opportunity to help a person. It IS a sickness – just like cancer.

I suffer with Borderline personality disorder. One of the most difficult disorders to diagnose.

Just to add I am not a doctor by any means but I can bet Brent Brents’ being diagnosed as a sociopath may actually be an inaccurate diagnosis. Even if he is diagnosed a sociopath then why wasn’t he helped. Why is the word sociopath considered a moral weakness – yet people who are depressed or bi-polar are treated like porcelain?

Just my thoughts. -Holly

Time: July 2, 2013 at 1:04 pm

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A Reader Weighs in on Chemical Castration

Note from Amy: I posted a comment from convicted serial rapist Brent Brents about chemical castration, and it prompted an interesting response from a reader in Montreal, Canada, who wrote to this Diary of a Predator website that he turned to that as an alternative after having sexual relationships with both women and men. The original post from Brent Brents and the reader’s response to it are below:

Well my only real issue lately is my OCD. It’s real real hard (No Pun intended) to Not want to masturbate or Push the fantacies out of my head. I can’t masturbate because of the meds anyway. Chemical Castration so to speak. You might i would be sad or upset by that. Honestly No I couldn’t be happier about that part of my life. It sure makes it easier to push the fantacies aside and eases the compulsion to masturbate or wash my hands every 5 minutes. Because I equate the fantacies with dirty hands.

 

-Brent Brents 3-13-2013

Reader comment:

Castration is not all that bad, there are some bad and some sides. I’m not a sex criminal but I’ve used anti androgen for 8 years. I can’t produce testosterone any more.

In 1995 at 42 y.o. I search infos on the web about castration. I’ve discovered Yahoo groups and Eunuch .org. I found out about chemical castration and I started to used a natural product called “Saw Palmetto”  this acts like “finasteride” an anti androgen. The transition went smooth. Within few months I could no longer get an erection and it didn’t bothered me because I had no desire for sex. Like other chemical castration this doesn’t eliminate all sex drive but brings it to a low level not enough to have an urge for sex. So I was satisfied being sexless. This went on for 8 years, this is why I said castration is not all that bad, other wise I’d have quit long before. During that period I was doing office work. I already had some side effects but they were bearable. I switched jobs to field work, first I thought I was out of shape but it went from bad to worst and I couldn’t do it any more. The castration side effects were just unbearable and I was very depressed. I quit the anti androgen, after few months my T level remained close to castration level. In 2005, my doctor suggested me to start Testosterone Replacement Therapy and I am on it since then. I’ve regained my sexual functions but my libido is still under control. I rarely have sex, perhaps once a year. I suggest to all castrated men to be very cautious about theirs health, eat healthy, take vitamin D and calcium, exercise everyday, keep your weight under control and don’t expect to work as hard as intact men. Castrated men are diminished men. If you remain fit you should avoid castration side effects. Good luck to all.

You may post it if you want perhaps this could help others. I’m opposed to mandatory castration for sex criminals but I support castration as therapy not only for criminals  but for all men who ask for it. There are a lot of men that wish to be castrated , we all have our own reasons.
-Jacques 6/28/2013

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Reader: It takes courage

Note from Amy: The following comment was sent to this website about the book, Diary of a Predator: A Memoir, which is about the case of serial rapist Brent Brents and how covering the case impacted my life.

Comment: I just purchased your book from Amazon.com. I was interested in it after watching Brent’s story this morning. I admire your courage. It takes courage to decide to do what your heart tells you to do regardless of what other people think. You knew you would be judged even though you chose not to judge Brent. That is what makes you remarkable. Always remember that. I want to read this book before I comment further.

I am a survivor of the 1950s foster care system. I wrote a book about it: Survival of the Fittest…One Child’s Life in the Foster Care System. My family’s response? Anger, even though I changed all of the names. But, writing that book saved me really. I was angry all of my life until I wrote that book.

Take care, Amy and God’s speed.

Time: Wednesday June 5, 2013 at 7:01 am

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South African Reader: “Parents make their kids into killers”

Note from Amy: The following comment was sent to this website, Diary of a Predator, after the South African viewer watched the Paula Zahn show about the Brent Brents case:

I have watched Brents story and as i view this site and read everyones comments i notice that what Amy is trying to explain is that its not about Brent but everywhere, he is the guinea pig. We dont know how many become like brent in the world, there isnt just a black and white but many shades in between.

What is more disturbing about this is the amount of abuse happening and mostly to children. Look at how many of you wrote saying you were abused. I am truly saddened and this all boils down to 2 people being careless, getting pregnant and going through with it even though they dont want kids. Then taking it out on them! People who are labelled parents earn it! By providing a safe haven, loving and protecting no matter how poor you are.

I have a son who is 4 i live in a tiny home, but my God i dont know what the future holds but i make sure my son has food, shelter, education and that he is loved and that he is not a burden and that even though i too was in an abusive home where my father did drugs, drank, got abusive etc, and raped by men. I make it my goal to not let my son become like that. That he will know his home is safe.

I live in south africa which has the highest rape, murder etc in the world but you dont hear what happens here. Everyone says brent had a choice, no he didnt! From the time he was born he didnt, so how can you expect him to know how to make a choice or expect him to know what that means or have logic or any other in this situation. Parents make their kids into killers . They learn from what they see and experience, not from what they are told.

Time: Monday May 13, 2013 at 2:09 am

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lots of emotions i don’t deal with

So where am i emotionaly. the truth is Not so good. Spending my life in a cell really does eat at my brain. I catch myself questioning life. I dont want to be cowardly but some days suicide does seem like a valid thing to do. I get depressed out of the blue. There are lots of emotions i don’t deal with to well. Wanting to die is one. Anyway I choose life. What there is of it is more than I’ve ever had.

-Brent Brents 5-21-2013

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a larger percentage are rape, abuse or incest survivors

Note from Amy: Brent Brents suggested I check out the information about a documentary called “Searching for Angela Shelton.”

It does indeed look worthwhile. This is what he said:

She (Angela) goes all over the us talking to the Angela Sheltons she can find who will talk to her. She is an incest survivor. A majority of the Angela’s she finds (not all) but a larger percentage, are rape, abuse, or incest survivors. One woman she meets keeps track of sexual offenders for a living. She helps Angela confront her father.

 

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Diary of a Predator: A Memoir Wins An Independent Publisher Book Award

It was gratifying news: Diary of a Predator: A Memoir has been selected as a silver medalist in the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the category “Best Adult Non-Fiction Personal E-Book.”

Altogether, there were 382 medals awarded out of 5,200 entries, so I’m honored by the distinction. And it’s further testament that Diary is not just about the case of serial rapist Brent Brents; rather, it’s a very personal account of how my life was changed forever after being assigned that story.

https://i0.wp.com/www.independentpublisher.com/images/ippy_silvermedal_LR.jpg

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