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Extra: John Needham interrogation

November 12, 2011 7:30 PM

On Sept. 2, 2008, homicide detectives with the Orange County Sheriff's Department questioned John Needham in the beating death of his girlfriend, Jacqwelyn Villagomez.

War-damaged vet kills girlfriend; Is PTSD to blame?
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by Jaylyn23 August 1, 2012 9:24 AM EDT
Where is Jackie's story? This whole episode is extremely biased, a young girl was murdered but yet there is not really much mention of her. While Private Needham clearly has some issues that needed to be taken into account, a young women's life was cut short so brutally and all this episode shows is Private John Needhams account of events.
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by thereal001 July 14, 2012 5:50 PM EDT
I am also a vet, Serving under the administration of President Regan...I also suffer from PTSD, but not due to seeing combat action but because I was an extremely young woman who joined weeks after I graduated High School and lived my life in a low key suburban town, the military through me in with a bunch of wolfs once I got to my permanent station; but due to being sexually abused by a SSG I had no one to turn to or that would believe me. I still suffer from this condition today. Ask me? This is all just flat out tragic!! The military will accept anyone (just as long as you are not a felon, you can become one once you serve we don't care!!)! They don't care. I mean what is the point of war?? It's to kill enough people so that a country gets its way!! Honor duty is a load of crap!! You have the ok to MURDER .... I am not saying that all soldiers coming home from battle and comment MURDER only while you serve though. Enough of soldiers do and the Army needs to take responsibility! I think that the biggest threat to national security is the military itself!
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by astrosue July 4, 2012 10:13 PM EDT
Whoooo was that horrible O.C. detective? Harassment is all! Turn the tables on him one day (just for fun :)
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by huggies2389 December 24, 2011 2:56 PM EST
Being in the Army Im sad to see that he was failed for treatment. Putting someone in isolation doesn't not help and ripping them out of phych help doesn't either. The Army failed as much as I hate to say it, and now two people paid the price. I hope that the families find peace.
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by f0rm3rv3t November 27, 2011 9:55 PM EST
I think this is a total tragedy for everyone involved, and those who have never served our country shouldn't throw stones PTSD happened in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Bosnia, etc, etc, etc! Iraq is no different! If you have served our country you would know from personnel experience that our country does not return such dedication. We do our service and then are hung out to dry. This opinion comes from a 6th generation soldier who served, whose husband is former military and now we have two grown boys serving and a third trying to go delayed entry. NO-ONE fully understands the consequences until after, but only those that have served know the truth! Mind your Manners about what you know not!
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by JenniferCBS November 14, 2011 2:22 PM EST
Any person that has not been in the military and have lived through any combat has no idea what a soldier goes through and the ways it can transform a person.

Murder is murder. There are many points that need to be considered and looked into and weighed. His actions may have derived from what the war has done to him mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Yet, there is still accountability left on the table to take hold of and be responsible for what he is fully aware of what he has done to this young woman, her family, his family, and even himself.

I'm interested in seeing what the court system will do with this, the jury - knowing that he is a soldier with a purple heart and high comments about the soldier he was while in combat. He will not be treated the same and a civilian. What do you think will come of this in the legal system.

Last note, treatment for PTSD does need to continue with any other treatment and therapy necessary to cope in this world is now in. It may never be able to be discontinued. He may never be cured of the damage that has been done to him.
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by Jensaylooth November 13, 2011 8:02 PM EST
Well, he is dead now, so he will never be held responsible for what he did. He committed murder. No two ways about it. People commit murder for many reasons. Never makes it right, and neither does PTSD. Clearly he was sick and traumatized because a normal person doesn't beat their girlfriend to death with their fists, or with anything else. He should have gotten mental help and the Army should have provided this. This still doesn't mean he shouldn't have paid for his crime with incarceration. I hope the Army learns from this tragedy.
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by aggie919 November 13, 2011 7:15 PM EST
I agree with mic2005's comments. Yes he did something atrocious. He will pay the price and maybe then get the help he needs. The whole thing is another price of WAR.
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by BeTheir November 13, 2011 3:55 PM EST
As a Mom who was excited and scared at the same time when her Son told her that he was joining the Military, after so many stories where we are "letting down" our Military personnel while on active duty or once they come home, by mentally pushing them further then anyone should be, then making them feel "humiliated" for either seeking or feeling the need to seek treatment is outrageous to me!
Plans need to be better then they currently are for our Vets, we need to assist them in staying employed, ensuring that they are getting medical assistance that is necessary or we are going to be in a far worse position then we ever thought possible. When all of the troops come home by the end of the year, we need the Military to continue to employ and support them. I understand it will not solve all issues, it will help them transition in a slower, more contained manner. Releasing all of them back at the same time is unreasonable in a country where we have a very high unemployment rate.
Too much time on their hands is the worst thing for them, over medicating them will only cause additional issues, ensuring they are employed and continue to be a necessary part of society will allow them to grow and move forward. There is so much that each of them has to offer the United States, haven't they already proven that? Let them "Save America" upon their return!

Again as a Mother, I was grateful to hear that due to my Son's eagerness to please his football coaches; he'd had too many concision's to join the Military. I only imagine what would have happened to him if he was allowed to join the Military and do exactly what they told him to do, as he takes pride in being a great team member, following orders, protecting others and getting the job done no matter the cost to his physical self.

I'm so grateful and proud of all of our Service Men and Women. Now let's "BE THEIR" for them! (No mistake on how their is spelled!) Be there as a family member, co-worker, neighbor, and fellow human being. Let's not repeat our previous wars, let's set new standards. I'm not asking anyone to agree with war, or military. I'm asking each of us to stand up as humans and treat each other with dignity and respect. If you haven't walked in their shoes, don't judge them! Anyone who has been through something traumatic needs to find ways to handle it, give them that.

As far as the person who stated that they "volunteered", be glad YOU might have been drafted!

No part of John and Jacque's story is good and they will both be horribly missed by many! One can only hope that because the story was heard by many people, other's demand and get help prior to life getting this out of control.
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by KBI011 November 13, 2011 12:26 PM EST
If this was a black man killing a white girl or a child they would fry that guy immediately and no one would even bother analyzing why or give him an hour of attention in a documentary. Many murderers have mental illnesses but their crime are still considered to be murder. Why should this murder be excused? This episode should be contributed to Jackie instead.
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