Inside Mind of Health Club Shooter

Top Forensic Psychiatrist Delves into Blog Entries and YouTube Videos Gunman Left Behind

(CBS)  The Pennsylvania gunman who killed three women, injured nine and killed himself Tuesday in an L.A. Fitness Club in suburban Pittsburgh kept an online journal in which he detailed planning the attack and posted videos on YouTube discussing his need to work on his emotions in order to attract women.

But what do these Internet remnants of the killer say about his mind?

Top forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner appeared on "The Early Show" Thursday to discuss what the online entries and videos say about 48-year-old George Sodini's mental condition.

Welner, who's credited with developing "The Depravity Scale," a tool that helps judges and jurors distinguish violent crimes from those motivated by pure evil, has consulted on some of the most notorious crimes in recent history, including the Virginia Tech massacre, the murder of Jon-Benet Ramsey, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Welner told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez many people he encounters in forensic psychiatry look average or normal.

"They look exactly like you," he said. "You expect (shooters) to be monsters because they're built up, and actually, they're quite ordinary."

As for Sodini, Welner said, it was his ordinariness that was at the heart of his attention-seeking crime.

"Crime doesn't pay ... unless you're a mass shooter, because all of that is getting notoriety."

Rodriguez commented that she wondered what led him to the crime, adding that Sodini seemed desperate, but unable to connect emotionally with people.

Welner said many people are desperate to connect emotionally, but you don't have to worry about them becoming violent. However, with a mass shooter -- who is "invariably" a man, he said, sexual rejection is such a powerful force in his life that he gives up on resolving it. At that point, Welner said, the shooter attaches his failed masculinity to the idea of being destructive on a big scale.

Welner said Sodini's thinking was focused on authority: " 'I get to be famous. I get to show power. And the very people I can't connect with sexually are going to see me as some kind of a potent figure." '

As for Sodini's blog entries, Welner said, Sodini didn't want people to try and stop him from committing the crime, although Sodini said he kept putting off what he called "the project." Rather, Welner said, Sodini wanted someone to find his blog after the crime was complete.

"He gets to package himself in a way that he wants us to consume," Welner said. "Mass shooting is the only crime we have available in this country -- and it's analogous to suicide bombing in the Islamic world -- where more attention is given to how you're going to appear after the fact than even plotting the crime itself. This is all about attention for him, which is exactly why his videos, his writings shouldn't be exposed. They should be relegated, and he should be remembered as a sexual reject, because that's where all of this derived from."

Continued on Page 2.

[Wookiee-1138]

"Those who have crossed, with direct eyes
to death's other kingdom
remember us, if at all,
not as lost, violent souls
but only as the hollow men. The stuffed men."

[native_warrior_USMC]

I have a great idea concerning all you insecure, self-pity filled, introverts that think the only way to "improve" your self-image is to open fire on unarmed civilians. I have several hundered acres of woods and farmland where I live, and for a small fee you can come on out and try your weapons handling skills against someone who is actually armed and can actually shoot back will skill. You can pick from many scenerios customized just for you such as sniper, close quarters combat, wild west shootout, land mine, as well as many many more. We will provide the weapons and ammunition and you can go out in the blaze of glory of your dreams. We do accept all major credit cards, checks, and money orders. Prices may vary. See store for details.

[mnbrant]

heh human hunting is an old idea. Actually for one of these guys to pay you would have to agree to only have a hunting knife while the guy paying would have the rifle. Not a bad idea if you win. I doubt its legal in this country. Maybe you could open a perserve in somalia or somewhere in africa.

[rrozsa]

Cute.... However, I don't predict you'll have many takers, given that these guys are too cowardly to pick on anyone who may be carrying. That's why the guy fired on aerobics class; even people who normally carry guns won't have them on them in exercise class!