While completely naked, Rudy Eugene of Miami attacked a homeless man and began eating his face. According to the details noted in the NPR story (see link below) Eugene behaved like an animal. There are ties in this story to cannibalism (chapter 2- taboo), feral children (chapter 3) and more.
This story is odd at best. Some are calling Rudy Eugene
the Miami Zombie. Follow up accounts suggest his fit of rage was brought on by
the use of bath salts. I don’t have a specific question. This is a free for
all. What do you think about this story?
Warning the link below is fairly graphic in details.
Ken T-49
ReplyDeleteWe all want to feel as though this was a reaction due to some type of chemically enhanced drug that greatly influenced judgment to the extreme, or a hard-core mental illness gone badly. These are the only acceptable reasons that such a taboo manifestation to occur in our society.
Now we wait for the autopsy and hope that for the sake of our society that there was a realistic cause.
JimellaB43 in response to KenT49
DeleteI really hope the same thing because this was just awful. I honestly don't think this man was just eating another man for attention or just to be doing it. There has to be a realistic cause it just has to be!
Gbenga A.43 in response to Ken T.49
DeleteWhat possible explanation or reason could a man have to eat the face of another man alive? It's the most heartless thing a man could do to another. In my opinion, I think this act was not as a result of any influence of drug or alcohol, he was most likely possessed by a demon.
Frances M 847 in response to Ken T. 49 and Gbenga A 43
DeleteI believe that Eugene had to be under the influence of something because no one in there right mind would just decide one day they want to chew up someone's face. But only the autopsy can tell. We should have another decision about that when that is revealed that would be quite interesting. And being a religious person myself I may have to agree with Gbenga that Eugene may have been possessed to even have his thought process messed up that day because I'm sure he knew the end of him was drawing near because he paid no attention to the authorities.
Jalaacya M43 online In response to Ken T49
DeleteI totally agree he had to have some type of illness. If you think about what his ex wife says it just proves further that something was wrong with him before this occurred.
Q. Higgins-44
ReplyDeleteI think that the story is very disturbing, the world today is very dangerous and some are living in fear. Parents are starting to guard thier kids closer than in recent years. How can our society grow? Its impossible, all you can do is pray and be safe out here.
Lizzy A.44 on-line in response to Q.Higgins-44
DeleteWell said! I believe we must all be praying for the safety of God.Everywhere,anywhere, and everyday is full of evil.We all need to be prayerful.
Michaelia B. 43 in response to Q. Higgins 44
DeleteI agree, the world has changed over the year drastically. People are snatching children in broad daylight alot like this story. I do think its sad but I am not shocked at all of what happened. There are many different types of crazy out there and cannibalism is one of them.
JimellaB34
ReplyDeleteThis story to me was very very very disturbing. I can't phantom another human eating another human but I do believe it is possible. Its a dog eat dog world and I can believe that Rudy Eugene may have been homeless and hungry for quite sometime that he developed animal like instincts. If there is no food in America and people were starving I believe people would feel they have no choice. In this case I really don't know why he did this and no one may ever understand why.
christy a 40 in response to Jimella B 34 I hope that this is tied to drugs and mental illness and not just a hungry person...I would think that there are soup kitchens in Miami and that he would even turn to theft before
Deletecannibalism ...
Kristel B. 43 Online in response to JimellaB34
DeleteIf I have read the article correctly, and I very well may have not, the homeless man was the victim, not the offender. Am I wrong in concluding this?
"The victim, identified as 65-year-old Ronald Poppo, a homeless man who lived under the causeway, was in critical condition."
With this in mind, that is why I have an even harder time wrapping my mind around this story.
Bernadette M43 online
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe that someone could do this even if he is under the influence of drugs or if he is mental ill. People are capable of committing the most horrendous acts because of so many different reasons. Take the child abuser, why does he commit such repulsive acts. Is it a mental illness or is it because of what happened to him as a child. Acts like this have happened since the beginning of time. In ancient Rome, they fed Christians to the lions while crowds watched and cheered. Hitler did unspeakable things to the Jews. What makes us so violent and have a thirst for blood? What makes us want to hurt one another? Drugs do cause us to do things we would not ordinary do, so why do people still use them? Now if the question is should the officer have shot the attacker, the answerer is easy. Most of us would say yes without even thinking twice about it. Life is one question after another!
Gbenga A 43
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most devastating stories I've ever read. How can a man in his right mind do a heartless thing like that? It just doesn't make no sense to me! Regardless of whatever the perpetrator of this devilish act must have been through in life, I don't care whether the whole world rejected him, or they hated him, he had no reason whatsoever to eat the face of another man alive. It just simply tells me that the devil had his mind completely taken over. I am imagining the excruciating pain the victim of this attack must have gone through before he died. If DNA tests were to be carried out on Rudy Eugene, its most likely possible he had the DNA of a carnivore. I wish Rudy Eugene were alive to face the consequences of what he did. He probably should have be thrown in the middle of a pride of lions, so that he could also have a good feel of what flesh eating is all about.
Candace Brown 49
ReplyDeleteI think this is pure craziness. Bath salts? people take baths with bath salt all the time. I think this man may have a mental issue, I dont see this as a modern day zombie thing. Hannible Lector was not a "zombie" but was a canible. I think this man is sick and twisted and probably wanted the attention because he didn't get enough at home. He should still be alive and be suffering as he made his victom. This story saddens me. Goes to show that people are insane & we live in a cruel world.
In response to Candace Brown 49
DeleteI know it sounds hard to believe that bath salts caused this, but think everything. He was considered socially and mentally sound, per his girlfriend as she described him. There are some mental illnesses that manifest later in life (like bipolar, schizophrenia, and multiple personality disorder) however these generally show up in early 20s to mid 20s. His bath salts contained amphetamine, which can cause a slue of issues including Psychosis.
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/05/bath-salts-miami-zombie-apocalypse-attack-may-have-been-caused-by-amphetamine-like-chemicals.html
Which if he was experiencing Psychosis then their was nothing that he could do to stop, we was no longer himself.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002520/
I do however find that its a little over the top to say he should be alive and suffer for what he did. Because he was suffering from some kind of mental illness, he cant be treated as a sane person. Its not his fault he went crazy. It is his ignorance for going crazy, not knowing that bathing yourself in amphetamine could make you believe tearing someones face off was a good idea.
Dana Y43
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this story i began to wonder what this man was on? They say it was bath salts or pcp. If that is true then i pray for all the experimental drug users. Its sad that this homeless man had to go through this gruesome act of violence because of someone else's delusional behavior.
Jordan P. 43 in response to Dana Y 43.
DeleteI agree. If someone wanted to have a talk with their kids about why you're not supposed to do drugs, this is definitely a good story to tell them. This man must have had extreme levels of this drug in his system. It scares me to think what will happen in the future as more and more new drugs start being discovered.
This is a prime example of why you tell yours kids to say no to drugs. This is so sad. This man is already homeless and now he has to worry about half of his face is gone. OMG what are the PEOPLE in this world coming to.
ReplyDeleteKathrynC43
ReplyDeleteThis is the most disturbing thing I have heard of in years. It just goes to show me that I have had a very sheltered life, because I have a hard time comprehending that one human being could do this type thing to another. My husband had told me about this a few days ago, and I felt sick to my stomach. Reading it in print does even less to alleviate that feeling. My father grew up during a great famine and he never spoke of anything like this. My father spoke of other horrors, but when I asked him about anything like this he was shocked that in the world we live in today, something like this could happen. I can only hope that this man was under some kind of drug induced state and that the people who walked by this horrific scene sleep well at night.
Jordan P. 43
ReplyDeleteI have heard about this from many people and the sad thing is that a couple more stories of people eating other people have come out since this particular event. These occurrences happened so close together that people are saying "zombies are attacking." It makes you wonder if this is a scary turn of events that have started happening all of the sudden or if things like this have happened in the past and were just not being mentioned. Either way, it scares and disturbs me and makes me sick to my stomach.
Tokunbo N44.
ReplyDeleteI think the man should be taken to a mental institution for evaluation.it is obvious there is something wrong with him physically, spiritually and mentally.
If not why would a man in his right state of mind be so hungry that he decides to a fellow human being.He needs help.
Tokunbo N 44 in response to Gbenga A 43 I agree with you, he should have a taste of what flesh eating feels like, If he was from Africa i would have said he did it for rituals,Like we both pointed out he is not in his right sences. Bath salt is just an excuse as far as i am concerned.
ReplyDeleteLizzy A.44
ReplyDeleteIt is really disgusting for such thing in the light of day. I do not believe he is suffering from paranoid or bath salt but the marijuana he smokes has turn his reasoning and he is no more in his right senses. Eating a fellow human being is not what one with his right mind will do I believe.
Christy A 40 in response to Lizzy A 44...I dont think this is a side effect of marijuana if the guy smoked 24/7 his everyday of his life since birth...
DeleteCarmen G. 87 Online
ReplyDeleteThis type of situation and others like it are very devastating to hear about. It is hard to believe that although humans are extremely advanced creatures, we can sometimes behave like the animals that we have progressed from. In situations such as this one, it is easy to say someone completely normal just snapped due to stress; however, there has to be more to it. Snapping under pressure may lead to suicide or even unneccessary killing of others, but cannibalism for no apparent reason is something else.
Carmen G. 87 Online in response to Jordan P. 43
ReplyDeleteThe crazy part is although the media is choosing to publish these stories so close together its seems like all this is happening at once, but in actuality these type of events happen all over the world more often than we hear about. The media just has a clever way of manipulating the public. I agree with Tokunbo N. 44, there is something wrong mentally and spiritually with the person.
I will not forget the day I heard of this disturbing news it was at work. "Zombie Attacks" I'm thinking someone probably saw a UFO or some extraterrestrial being but when I actually stopped to listen what was really going on I could not believe my ears. I just wonder what REALLY possessed Eugene to try the drugs, was it his first time, was he going he going through some issues and just acted out to get attention? His family saw no signs of abnormality which was strange. What was also interesting was there were two other similar incidents that had occurred so what is really going on?
ReplyDeleteDuuuuude this is some sick stuff. Normally I can write up a storm, but this time there really isn't much to say. It's just really gruesome... Normally human beings don't really do stuff like this, so I'll just have to take his word for it on the bath salt thing...
ReplyDeleteI know people are normally looking for reasons to get a weird buzz and what not, but I'm thinking maybe we can cross getting high off bath salts off of everyone's lists with this incident, hopefully. Bottomline is, we have to see the toxicology report to get the real insider. I feel sorry for the victim AND the guy who witnessed it...
Elizabeth M. 44
DeleteYou say that normally human beings don't do this kind of thing but I am sure there are some cultures out there where this is quite normal. Not saying that I think it is ok(I think it is sick)...just food for thought.
Sopheak P49
ReplyDeleteI think the dude is mentally ill. From my experience, I don't believe any drug could cause someone to do something like this.
So I did a little bit of research to find some interesting articles. I posted them also in a reply earlier. The first article talks more about the bath salts and what they found in them.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/05/bath-salts-miami-zombie-apocalypse-attack-may-have-been-caused-by-amphetamine-like-chemicals.html
This next link talks more about psychosis, which is a side-effect of amphetamines (which was found in the salts).
This is pretty messed up, however drugs have caused this in the past, but most of the time its self mutilation. Meth users have been know to scratch themselves all the way to the bone, or digging their fingers behind their eyes trying to remove whatever they think they are seeing. Drugs do some really messed up things to people. Which its been said before, makes you wonder why people still do them. Ignorance is bliss I guess.
Eric D. 49 in response to Clint Wiley44.
DeleteThere are 1000's of accounts of accidental deaths caused by one person or several people using drugs. Most would argue that stopping the drug abuse would impede further things, but drug abusers who are hooked on a substance will do anything in their path to obtain said substances and this could be the equivalent of the side-effects. Banning the store-front sale of these drugs would certainly put a damper on the number of kids that get hooked early on by other kids in their neighborhood.
Christsandra G. 44 in response Eric D. 49
DeleteI totally agree with Eric D. 49 I feel that they are putting more things on the market to kill us, but maybe it will teach people that are out here trying any and everything to mess there brains and minds up just to get high.
in response to Eric D. 49
DeleteYour absolutely right Eric, drug abusers who are hooked do just about anything to get their next fix. I was merely stating to those who thought that drugs couldn't cause this and he was just mentally ill, that drugs can cause this as well as temporary mental issues and sometimes permanent ones. The fact that he took a gunshot turned and growled at the officer, has the effects of drugs written all over it.
In response to Clint 44
DeleteYou are correct in this matter drug abusers will do anything for their next fix there has been plenty of story showing meth heads killing their family for money or selling their children for their next fix. This story should be no surprise the man was on drugs Drugs will make you do dumb thing.
I happened to do some further research on this topic myself. The man whose face was eaten, is now missing an eye, his nose, and most of his face. Eugene had to be shot 3 times in order to put him down. I'm not necessarily sure that he was on bathsalts though, i was thinking more PCP. I hope the poor homeless man is dead, i sure as hell wouldnt want to live like that. When Eugene was first shot, he turned around and growled at the police and continued to eat the homeless man's face. Maybe it was the "bath salt" but i think there were some more serious issues going on in Eugene's head.
ReplyDelete-Brie-Lenn H.
Christy A 40..this is just sick to me, I hate to think that this is what our world has come to, when you have to worry about people (drugged up or not) eating you alive in broad daylight, I read this story and several ones relating to the use of bath salts and they say the users have super human strength are violent and use teeth to lash out...I gotta wonder why people would even try a drug that had the remote chance of turning them into a cannibal?
ReplyDeleteMia A 44 in response to Christy A 40
DeleteI agree, I think we have a huge drug problem in the U.S. I'm assuming people get into these types of drugs because they need psychological help. And so sad that there are innocent people who get hurt.
Meredith N.44
ReplyDeleteThis story is disgusting. No one in their right mind would eat a person. I have never understood why a person would want to try drugs. Many stories are known about the bad side effects. I am glad that Rudy Eugene is not alive to hurt another person. It will be interesting to see what comes back from the autopsy. I feel bad for the homeless man. It seems he was attacked for no reason.
Chandis Cagle Tom LaPorte Forgot CRN
ReplyDeleteI think this story is sick! I mean really humans eating humans now-a-day...tisk tisk tisk !!!!!What is the world coming to for cannabilism to take place now. I really don't know what else to say about this because it's just very gruesome and gross!People are just crazy....omgeee!
Elizabeth M. 44
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that drugs can make or cause you to do anything. I believe that drugs can lower your inhibitions or ego but they cannot MAKE you do anything. If you do drugs and it makes you want to go eat someone's face off than you must have wanted to eat someones face to begin with and the drugs just helped you tap into some dark corner of your mind. What I am saying is that this guy already had issues, maybe the bath salts or whatever intensified them. (side note: are we talking about actual bath salts or is that lingo for some new drug?)
Michaelia B. 43
ReplyDeleteI cant really analyze this story without some kind of information about about the attacker. Nowadays this type of incident does not shock me. We live in a cruel world sometimes and its sad but true. The question is, how do you go from riding your bike to eating someones face off? I feel sorry for the homeless victim, who was definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time as stated in the article. Thankfully someone rode by to witness and get help or this may have not been the only victim.
Meredith N.44 in response to Frances M.847
ReplyDeleteI agree that he was under the influence of something. I am sure many people will be wanting to know the results of the autopsy. Whatever the reason, it is sad that a man was so severely attacked and injured.
Tammy B.44
ReplyDeleteI beleive that this man had to have some Psychological issues and probaly using drugs. I dont think that any human that has a right mind could do such an act. I know there is canniblism in our would but this has to be connected to someone that is very disturbed. This is horrible and is not human.
Eric D.49
ReplyDeleteThere is a similar account of a MMA fighter who, under the influence of psycilocybin infused tea, cut out his trainer's heart and dismembered him. He was also found naked standing over the dead body of his trainer. It's hard to justify any action as taboo as this by blaming bath salts or hallucinogens of any form for that matter. Humanistic psychology explains that a person also has the choice to make these decisions. Herbert's survival of the fittest notes that only the strong survive. Drugs will sometimes trigger impulses in the brain to misconceive natural instincts and turn them into a fight for survival. I think that after this, the government needs to start seriously scanning the "head" shops and smoke stores because they are filled with "legal highs." They even sell the name brand "Chore Boy Copper scrubbing pads" because they make good crack filters. And these are readily available to anyone 18 of age or older.
Leslie B. 40
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I thought was that they were both doing some sort of drugs. Being naked in public is always a clue, although there could be a good explanation for it, like he was warm or something.(sarcasm) Anyway, I saw that it said that Rudy stripped the homeless gentleman, so that explains that part of it. Swinging from a telephone pole is another clue. It will be interesting to find out, if they can ever tell, if Rudy took something on his own or if it was slipped to him. Someone in a previous blog talked about the smoke shops and the legal highs. Just because we CAN do something does not mean we should. I will not be surprised either way.
My prayers go out for the victim. If he survives, he has a long road ahead of him. Also, on another note, I saw that Rudy's mom was saying that the police officer should have tazed him. As a mother myself, I understand her thoughts, but I believe the police usually have policy that they go a level higher than the threat to stop the threat. Rudy was killing the other man and had to be stopped. I'm sure it was a tough call, but people need to walk a mile, (or a block) in the officer's shoes to understand the stress and tough decisions.
Tracey E.49
ReplyDeleteI would rather not look at the pictures but I did hear about this story and I think it is disgusting. I am very curious to know how bath salts are related to this and if that assumption can even be backed up. This isn't the first time we've heard of a killer eating other human beings and bath salts had nothing to do with it. Really curious to see how this plays out and if they can validate the information given.
AnissaG43
ReplyDeleteWow! This is the most bizarre thing I have heard it remind of the show the Walking Dead a human eating another human face off his teeth must be sharp as a knife skin is tough. I was grossed out while reading this and the poor man that witnessed this in action had to get sick watching it and the poor victim didn't have a chance if you have someone attacking you like that. When someone is not in there right mind there strength is unbelievable strong.
AnissaG43 online in response to TammyB44
ReplyDeleteI agree that he had to be on some type of drug or got hold to some bad drugs that caused him to snap and strip out of his clothes. I don't think a salt bath caused that behavior.
Jalaacya M43 online
ReplyDeleteI really think this man was ill way before the attack. Something triggered this mental breakdown he had. IF not this it was only a matter of time before he went crazy. The things his wife mentions about him are signs of some mental illness, like being paranoid and so on. He possibly could have been diagnosed with something but no one notice how serious it was.
Mia A. 44 in response to Jalaacya M 43
DeleteIf the autopsy doesn't show drug use, i am curious to know if there was some kind of severe neglect or abuse in his past.
Kayla F. 49
ReplyDeleteI think that this story is sickening.There are many disturbing stories in the news everyday,but this one shocked me.A man eating another mans face off in broad daylight,with people watching,is beyond disgusting.The reports say that he may have taken bath salts.I have seen someone take bath salts,and they were completely out of control,jumping up and down,saying crazy things,trying to hurt people,but that is no excuse.Bath salts are not to blame,the person who takes them is 100% responsible for their actions.I think that what this man did is just another symbol of what kind of world we live in.
I think someone like this should have been in a mental asylum. There is no way that prior to this incident there were no symptoms shown by this man of being mentally challenged.
ReplyDeleteMaile F. 44
ReplyDeleteSo here are my thoughts. I agree with everyone. This man is obviously mentally ill and on some sort of drugs. It is a truly sad and terrible event that has happened. My main thoughts are the with victim and what kind of recovery he is going to have to endure. What about the victim's family??? Hopefully if he has any they will step up and help him through whatever awaits him. As far as Rudy...I hate it for him that his friends and ex's and family was not there for him...maybe since his demise he has found some sort of inner peace.
Jessica F. 44
ReplyDeleteThis is a truly disturbing story. We hear horrible news every day. I think that Rudy sounds to have had a mental disorder that went undiagnosed and then he at a street drugs on top of the paranoia. It does not excuse the fact that Rudy was dismemberment Ronald’s face like a wild animal while he was still conscious. Rudy I would say received an easy death. I hope that Ronald pass in a peace sleep but if he live it is going to take a ton of strength to place this even in his past.
Christsandra G. 44
ReplyDeleteWhen I originally heard about this story I thought to myself this what you see on movies it can't be real, but then I saw the pictures of the seen and it just made me sick to my stomach. They said that Rudy took some drug called bath salt which is legal marijuana sold in stores you really half to watch what you put in your system because they put any chemical in anything to sell. Although that man homeless that will ruin him for the rest of his life I could not imagine driving down a highway looking at a person eating another person. What is the world coming to.
Jessica F. 44 Online in response to Lizzy A.44
ReplyDeleteI do believe that marijuana would cause somebody to attack and tear another human’s face off. You normal suffer from paranoia that you’re being watched and try to leave or be discreet. I do see going around naked an eating somebodies face. This could have been prevent before it went so far if other people would have just step up and called the police when they saw the incident.
michelle g 4
ReplyDeleteIt goes back to you can't try everything that you come across. Everyone react differnt to chemicals in our bodies. So becareful of what you come across. I do believe is was something he tried during the cousrse of the night, which probably had a lingering effect on hm till it reached a boil point to were he body overheated and in the results of him becoming unaware of his actions.
Carmen G. 87 Online in response to Meredith N. 44
ReplyDeleteMost individuals do know that doing drugs is a bad decision to make, but many do drugs to cope with some sort of pain that they are feeling. Many individuals who become depressed due to traumatizing emotional experiences turn to getting a quick high to escape their current pain. In actuality, people take legal prescription drugs everyday, to cope with same type of pain, and many anti-depressants, anti-psychotic drugs etc. can cause an individual to suffer an adverse reactions just the same.
Carmen G. 87 Online in response to Elizabeth M. 44
ReplyDeleteI to agree that I do not think that doing drugs makes you do anything either. You still have free will; however, I do think that when someone already mentally ill does drugs it can create an illusion of reality in which the persons perception of their true reality does not coincide with. Not to say this happened,just a thought,but while under the influence the individual could have thought he was some type of wild animal, and he could have perceived the victim in which he consumed as his prey. Just a scenario I thought of.
Krisetl B 43 Online
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, wow. This is definitely one of those cases you never thought would happen except for on a movie or tv show. The fact that it happened in reality just gives me the shutters. It brings the harsh realization to the fact that our world can be so dangerous. Secondly, I wholeheartedly believe that being mentally ill was the main cause for this awful outburst. The fact that a substance was used at some point only added to the situation and escalated the results. Yes, drugs make people do some crazy things but I have never heard of them being the main cause for something so atrocious. I cant fathom what that night must have been like for anyone who was involved in some way. How mentally disturbing for them. I am curious to know what was going through Eugene's mind that night. Why a homeless man? Was his instigating something? Why such grotesque things? Why wouldn't he stop when the officer told him to? I can't wrap my mind around any of this.
Shana-kay C. 20 Online
DeleteI agree you really do not think something like that can happen in real life. Its something that only can be imagined happening to someone. The homeless man probably did not do anything to the man. He must have a different amounts of drugs in his system to do something that gruesome.
Katarzyna C. 33 online
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW as I read this. And to say that this is disturbing; to me that is an understatement. I cannot imagine being Larry Vega and witnessing this attack. Also it makes me wonder if any of the people that drove by saw this, and if so why did they not stop or do something. I know that society is going to want an explanation of why this man did this… that there were drugs involve, or that he has a mental disorder, or a chemical imbalance.. What if he just snapped for no reason and did this… that to me is the scary part. We just have to wait and see what the autopsy reveals. In the mean time we have to live with yet another realization the there are some truly twisted people in the world around us.
Maile F. 44 in response to Katarzyna C. 33
DeleteI was thinking the same exact thing. How can people just pass by and do nothing. It is a truly sad world that we live in when you do nothing to help another person that is obivously in need. I hope that if I ever need help that people would stop and help me.
Victoria S. 43 in response to Katarzyna C. 33
DeleteThat's another very puzzling thing about this story. How could so many people ignore the very intense killing that was taking place? Even on the video surveillance camera you can see by standards just walk by with no concern. Now, some people did try to step in, but after 18 minutes I would hope that if it was me more would have been done.
Katarzyna C. 33 online in response to Clint Wiley 44
ReplyDeleteYour post was informative, I was not aware that Meth addicts perform self mutilation. I guess drugs alter the mind so much that anything is possible even grotesque things as eating human flesh like cannibalism. Wither way I look at it, it’s disturbing to me.
Mark W. 49
ReplyDeleteI really don't even know how to react to this. The only thing that I can assume is that he had some sort of mental instability and the bath salts enhanced this problem. Tis is a truly sad and horrific story.
Chris C. Paulding campus
ReplyDeleteI definately dont think it the "Zombie Apocolypse" but it is odd and disturbing. but i have heard about bath salts and that is a serious hallucinagen. Definately strange and intriguing socially with thousands of people calling it a Zombie Apocolypse.
Victoria S. 43
ReplyDeleteI first heard about this story while at work and definitely did not think it was true. A man eating another mans face off seems like a very unlikely story. Or maybe it was the photo that was attached to the story that made it so unrealistic? I still don't see how being on drugs could drive anyone into wanting to eat another mans face off? Or even have to idea to want to do something like it? Then to think it took policemen shooting him to death to make him stop is very frightening!!!! Weird..
Mia A. 44 in response to Victoria S. 43
DeleteI remember a while back when I went to a small session about safety, and an officer there told us a story that is somewhat similiar. He said that he had witnessed a man peeling off his skin with a knife thinking that he was an orange. He was on drugs.
Annsley B. 75
ReplyDeleteI feel like I could go throw up after reading this story. This is why I do not watch the news because of how bad ALL the terrible stories you hear daily. I really NEVER turn on the news. I do not want to be aware of all the wrong and bad thats going on in this world. I would rather not know. This is sick, awful and this world is very scary today. I beleive this man was on serious drugs and had a demon in his body. Anyone normal would not do such a thing; he had to be possessed. My husband also read this article and feels that he was zombie. It is something seriously out of this world, when you get shot with a gun, and still continue to eat a human, this means you are sickkkkkk.
Annsley B. 75 in response to Victoria S. 43
ReplyDeleteDRUGS make people CRAZY! Anything is possible and this shows it.
Christy W. online 43
ReplyDeletePrior to this I had not read regarding the use of "bath salts" as a drug. My conclusion is that we need to utilize information and research to help people with drug addiction problems, as well as education, concerning the harm and long term effects of drug abuse and experimentation. I found some informative information online - National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In particular the use of PET scanning (positron emission tomography)a noninvasive procedure that uses radiotraces to scan your body for concentrated chemical activity. These scans can determine how and where the distribution of the drug is greatest as well as which binding sites are most effected. We know that the brain stem and limbic system are the most effected and are able to override the cortex, which controls our behavior. I think this test would be very useful in this case, given the extreme behavioral effects shown by this person, and the further study of bath salts. By investigating the acivity of the enzymes that metabolize drugs we could develop channel blocking drugs to help with addictions.
Idealistically education is the answer. The number one cause of addiction today is the abuse of prescription drugs. We educate ourselves so little, regarding what we put into our bodies and the effects that may follow.
Kathryn C online 43 in response to melodime Well said! I had not thought about that aspect of talking to my children about how drugs will induce you to do weird and strange things. Being that I have a daughter who survived and is meth free for 5 years I should have. Thanks for the heads up and I hope that other parents take the opportunity to share that this is the type of things that drugs will cause a normal person in our society to preform some acts like this!
ReplyDeleteQuatis S 43 online...Wow! That is very strange. I can only imagine what the homeless man went through. The attacker had to be on some type of drug or he just snapped for whatever reason. I wish there were some type of tests that everyone could take to determine early onset of mental illness, but that would be inhumane. Oh well, just my thoughts. This is a sad story.
ReplyDeleteMia A. 44
ReplyDeleteI have to believe that this incident was drug related. He was raised and is an environment where this is not normal to him. He must have had a drug reaction to bite off the victim's flesh. The article didn't say whether he actually ate the flesh. So I don't think this was a reaction to severe hunger.
Mia A. 44
DeleteIf it wasn't drug related, I would like to know his environmental history like where or how he was raised, was he abused, ect.
Quatis S 43 online in response to Gbenga A.43
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you to the extent of possession. I have a younger brother who shot my older brother and my nephew was killed, who pulled the trigger we don;t know because ther were two other individual in the home at the time of the murder. but what possessed him to shoot our brother and lead to the death of our nephew, I have no clue.
Mia A. 44
ReplyDeleteThe descriptions from the article reveals an animal-like behavior from this person who attacked the homeless man. If it wasn't drug related hallucination, I would be interested in his history like the environment he grew up, where and how he was raised, ect.
Marci C. 09
ReplyDeleteThis story is beyond bizarre. The very details are disturbing at best. However, to try and rationalize how someone could commit such a terrible act is like being on a merry-go-around, with no way to get off. Clearly Rudy was deranged, whether it was drug use or mental illness, makes no difference because there will never be an opportunity to ask him questions. The fact that Rudy was able to rationalize to some level, that what he was doing was okay, shows that there were a number of signs that had been overlooked by those who had called him friend. In many cases, the ones we are the closest to, have the ability to justify the actions of they love the most. The poor victim will forever, deal with the ramifications of that fateful day, but the saddest part is that he will have to face the world without a face and try his hardest to find a place of acceptance. Unfortunately for him, he was already among so many of this country's "faceless" homeless men and women, and he will no longer even be able to find comfort among the ones who have become his equals. This is just a sad, sad story.
Marci C. 09 in response to Christy W. online 43
ReplyDeleteI think making others aware of the ramifications of drug use is important, however, I think to try and rationalize with a drug user is unrealistic. Like others have stated, drugs are typically a coping mechanism. Rudy was trying to cope with something, however, he was to unstable to recognize that his "coping" was at the expense of someone else. It's such a terrible tragedy.
JeffM - 34
ReplyDeleteWhile certainly not a desirable way for one human to treat another, i believe the media, As usual, went at this story in the half truct, half sensationalism style that they always do. In this competative age of 24-hour news, there are always those that just need to get something out there that is dramatic or traumatic, because we know, that is the only things that are newsworthy!! Sooner or later, we will probably find out more relavant information...try sitting on ajury sometime and then after the verdict is rendered, see what the media is saying...you will often wonder if both of you were in the same room!
Bernadette M43 online in response to Jeff m34
ReplyDeleteI agree that the media usually blows things up, and never reports both sides of the story accurately. So it is hard to tell what the true story might be. However, I do beleive things like this happen, it cause may be drugs, mental illiness or pure evil. If people can hurt children they are capeable of anything.
Bernadette M43 in response to Christy W. online 43
ReplyDeleteYour right when you say the number one drug problem is perscription drugs. The bath salts have just been discovered here in North Georgia and they have a new drug test for it. A lot of people in drug court who have been passing thier test are now failing them because of the new testing for these substances. So I guess as long as people live they will find a way around the law or beating the system. The trouble is they are not only hurting themselves but all those who have contact with them.
Vann H. 88
ReplyDeleteWeather drugs were involved in this or not, you have to be mentaly sick to try to do this. I can't help but feel like this probably would have happened eventually sober. And by the time we heard this story, how diluted had it become in the hands of the media?
Vann H. 88 in response to Marci C. 09
ReplyDeletePretty ironic comment about the facing the world with no face. Either way mental illness played the biggest role in this for sure. Weather it was the "society within him" or hate.
Karen S.49
ReplyDeleteThis is very disturbing that a human can eat another human. I have also read reports that voo doo was suppose to be involved. There were friends that saying that he had been up for days without sleep. This should wake the government up on what type of house hold items that they are allowing in the home and that is illegal and can cause people to act in a delusional way. Some reports say that he was growling at the police and acting in an animal like way. All I can say this has made everyone aware.
Jake C.55
ReplyDeleteWhen that cop woke up that morning, he had no idea what was in store for him! I'm still not sure why he unloaded his pistol on the guy instead of using a tazer. I wish we knew more about the "zombie". What was his home life like? Did he have any friends or relatives?
Arveolla M.43
DeleteHe probably unloaded his gun because he didn't want that man to go for anybody else because there are some that get tazered and they are not affected by it.
Wow this story brought me back to living in Jersey and all the drug use that I witnessed first hand. Thankfully my mom beat the heck out of me when she caught me smoking a cigarette that it scared me enough to NOT smoke snort or inject anything. Drugs and mental illness will drive you to do stupid things as is clearly seen in this article.
ReplyDeleteSamantha B: Eww… it’s just gross! And what is the world coming to, when the CDC actually has to release a statement about this not being the start of a zombie apocalypse?!?!
ReplyDeleteSabrina Page(online student)
ReplyDeleteThis was really a sad story to come across. As in my psychology class senior year, we would study cases such as this one. Canabalism had a huge role in it. We never came down to a solution on wether it was a form of mental issue, or drug related. In this scenerio, because of his past records of drug use, it could have very well been the cause. When you do such intense drugs over a long period of time, it could cause you to go cazy in the mind once you are off. This also could have been the result. My sympathy goes to the poor homeless man. He didn't deserve it, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could have been a 12 year old boy thatc amer across this man.
Danielle D. 49 It is apparent that the face eating man had to be under the influence of either drugs or severe mental pressure, I feel for the homeless man as I am sure he had no idea what was going on! We can hope that he was in fact under the influence because how can a human who isn't being influenced eat a mans face?!
ReplyDeleteArveolla M. 33 online.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have seen in this story may have been a case of drugs, bottled in with a release of wanting to be seen. I am pretty sure when those guys woke up they didn't know that they would be witnesses to such a gruesome case. This is very sad and it makes me wonder what the world is coming too.
Though soe cultures may allow for such things to accure, however im sure that someone watches over them while it is being done. however, just as it was being talked about in Clint"s view. it is so true what people will do to get the next high, but the is it really worth it when knowing the affects.
ReplyDeleteChristy W online 43
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jeff M 34
I agree with regard to the comments about how the media; informs us. I understand their interest in the hype. However, wouldn't it be great if they educated the public regarding the dangers and gave information to help prevent such tragedies. I'm a fan of HIPPA (medical privacy) in short. But I think that often we could benefit greatly knowing why, or what provoked such horrible acts to occur. Some may say this is privacy not to know the information regarding mental/medical information about criminals. But I think we should provide more educational information; for public awareness, than just the aftermath of tragedy.