Conn. gunman Adam Lanza's remains claimed by dad

Man kneels at picket fence with names of shooting victims during moment of silence in Sandy Hook village and Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 21 / Getty

Last Updated 11:31 a.m. ET

HARTFORD, Conn. The body of the young man who killed 26 people in the second-largest school shooting in U.S. history has been claimed by his father.

A spokesman for the family said Monday that Peter Lanza claimed the remains of 20-year-old Adam Lanza.

He said there were private arrangements over the weekend, but he won't elaborate.

Adam Lanza killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut school on Dec. 14. He also killed his mother before going on the rampage and then killed himself.

The attack prompted President Barack Obama to push for "real action, right now" on gun violence.

Lanza's burial site is being kept secret, the Hartford Courant reports.

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Newtown, Conn., memorial vigil

A private funeral was held earlier this month in New Hampshire for his mother, Nancy Lanza.

Police have not offered a motive for the killings.

Connecticut Medical Examiner Wayne H. Carver II has asked geneticists from the University of Connecticut to study Lanza's DNA for any mutations or other abnormalities that could shed light on his motivation for the shootings, the Courant says.

[NeilAllen2]

Here's a motive for Adam Lanza's massacre - Adam was raped by a local, convicted Catholic priest, Fr John Castaldo, when Adam was 6 years old, and was taking revenge against other 6 year olds. Here's the verified evidence:

http://neilallen76.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/why-adam-lanza-massacred-children-at-sandy-hook-newtown-a-theory/

It can't be proven yet, but it is the best explanation yet for why Adam would want to take revenge against other 6 year olds, since no one protected him when he was 6 years old.

[FlashJohnson]

SKEEZIX06, You are brandishing your naive world view. Congrats on displaying for all of us, once again, the historically repetitive nature of the typical flawed socialist thinking. You, sir, would do well to study history and compare your beliefs and logic with that of historical socialists...failures and oppressors, and LEARN the reason for the flaw.

[Thinkbeforeyouwrite]

It appears that the eons old practice of scapegoating is still being practiced today. I read somewhere recently that the "liberal schools" are to be blamed for these hideous acts. I would guess that the 6 teachers who died at Sandy Hook only taught their kids to not hurt others and to solve problems with words, not aggression, kind of like I tried to do for 30+ years as a teacher. Then we have the ages old Catholic tradition to throw our guilt on. I worry little about the Pope and the doctrine of his speaking "ex cathedra" (from the chair of St. Peter) as the last time he did it was back in the 50's with the Assumption of Mary. After what she did for her God, I would expect Him to give her extra respect. Other than than kind of doctrinal thing, I don't care a lot what the Pope has to say and that is speaking as a Catholic. Also, I have never been taught that a priest is a "god" (lower or upper case g) in any way, shape, or form. Priests I've known would laugh at such an idea. I read and hear a lot from Catholic theologians and spokesmen and I do not take it seriously. It seems non-Catholics would take it less seriously unless, of course, they want to find something to rant and rave about and use later as a scapegoat.

[taxed01]

Put it in a hole and cover it up.

[BigMykul]

Seems to me that the leftists and liberals should hold Adam as a hero. Because of his actions, more focus is being placed on restricting Constitutional rights.

[venturian]

Most folks have random, inappropriate thoughts like that....but they edit them before they speak, if they do so at all about such thoughts. What's your excuse?

[bobnjersey]

[... more focus is being placed on restricting Constitutional rights]
----------------------------------------------
the constitutional right already provides for reasonable restrictions.

continued and irrational insistence that there should not be any at all will no doubt create a situation where public opinion will force a more widespread crackdown ... maybe even a ban ... via an amendment to the constitution.

the constitution calls for a 'well regulated militia' ... the only question is how well regulated should they be.

[mari1963]

He abandoned his son while he was alive. He walked away and didn't seem to take much interest in him, instead he wrote a big check to his ex wife. Very sad.

[JV1970]

That's no excuse for what his son did! Many young men grow up without a father but still don't murder 27 people, including his mother, and then commit suicide!

[angelosdaughter]

From the articles I've read, Mr. Lanza's claiming his son's body is in keeping with the supportive father he was to his son. He saw the boy frequently, and was intending to pay for Adam Lanza's college and a car and had always been a supportive loving father. It was Adam Lanza, not his father, who cut off contact according to the news article, because the father had recently begun a new relationship. It is further proof that the father has come forward to claim and arrange disposition of his son's body, even though he is subject to the hatred the public feels for the son who committed such a monstrous act and is dead, therefore heedless of the hatred. His father makes a target. ,Howeverit seems Mr. Lanza doesn't deserve to be demonized for his son's actions. His only crime seems to be that he is the father of a deranged son whom he and his former wife did everything possible to love and support. Sometimes there are no simple answers to why a person commits such an atrocity. But even now, Mr. Lanza is acting as a father. I would not want to be in his shoes, because he is probably feeling grief for his son and horror at the cold-blooded murders that son committed as well as facing public hatred because the son is no longer alive to direct it at. Personally, I am praying for the family of the shooter along with the other families mourning their lost loved ones, and the people of Newtown.

[123-cbsnews]

Strange times, nothing has really changed, in a good economy we are too busy working 50-80 hours a week to read or listen to the news. The father did the right thing, and you know he wants to put this behind him, maybe move to another planet while he is trying to do just that.

[DigoPogo]

When all is said and done, a man still has to bury his son. My condolences to Mr. Lanza, and his son, Ryan, for their heartbreaking loss of both your wife/mother, and your son/brother.

[pearlygates50]

ha, yep..sounds callous..being a parent doesn't stop just because a child commits a horrendous crime. Gotta hurt for the guy..lost a son and has to live the rest of his life knowing what he did..

[plattre]

agree...

[zinn21]

Don't try planting any flowers. The urine deposited on that gravesite will never grow anything..

[JV1970]

Hopefully no one will know where he's buried. I'm not defending what he did but people like you who would desecrate his grave shouldn't know where he's buried. He was a very sick and disturbed individual who is now dead. He can't hurt anyone else. Have a little respect for his father and brother and let the dead rest in peace.

[dman6015]

Sorry, but isn't all of that considered public information, since the person who died was involved in a crime?

[httpwwwnews]

Well you read it slow news