I once had a cup of coffee with the DC Sniper!

Sometime during the mid- nineties, I needed the services of a car mechanic to come to my home, and I found someone from the phone book.

A very handsome and charismatic man turned up on my doorstep and after checking his credentials, I let him do the work on my car. As he was working on it within view of my window—I saw him chatting with one of my neighbors and later learned that they were old friends from their time together in the armed service, although I can’t remember which one, as it really didn’t matter to me until much later.

I was new to my neighborhood and wanted to make new friends, so when he finished the job on my car, I asked John in to my place for a cup of coffee and he accepted quite eagerly.
Always attracted to handsome men and having come out of a long and passionate relationship not long ago, I told myself to be careful, and not give the wrong impression of why I asked him in. However, I felt quite attracted to him and was glad to chat with an adult for a while, since my life at the time was pretty much ruled by my son and work. I was definitely interested in finding out more about this man, and he seemed quite pleased my interest.
I remember that John talked about his life, his many difficulties and moves around the country and such. He also had some kind of connection with Texas, where we had lived for three years, but eventually our conversation switched to more personal matters and I learned that he had a wife and a large family with many kids, scattered around the country and most of his children had different mothers. I remember him saying how much he loved his children, and my thinking why are you coming on to me then?
I got the impression that he would make a move on me at any moment then and I quickly got up to avoid any physical contact, still chatting about this and that, and trying not to look worried, because he was strong and if he’d wanted to—could have overpowered me. For me, the moment he told me that he was married—our chat was over—but he looked quite annoyed when he realized that I was no longer interested.
I said that I had to go and pick up my son from school, thanked him for the good work on my car and saw him out the door.

I drove out of the apartment complex shortly after and noticed that John was driving directly behind me—he must have waited for me to leave—although it could have been a co-incidence, I suppose. When I reached a corner with a left turn, he pulled up beside me and glared at me, and I remember thinking, what was that all about? He had seemed so nice, at first! What a shame!
Turning the corner, I checked the rear vision mirror to see if he was still following—but he was gone. There goes trouble -lucky escape!
He had reminded me of Denzel Washington in a good way and years later I thought of John again after watching Denzel’s incredible performance in Training Day. I had seen that same kind of flash of madness in that brief exchange with the man who became the DC sniper.
And now, tonight he will be executed, what a tragedy that is! How can so much sorrow be erased with more death?
When will we ever learn?

And a good read. And even though I do not agree with the death penalty, I won't be outside holding a candlelight vigil for this one, sorry.

With EVERYTHING you said

while no one cares for nice non-"Denzel Washington" looking guys.


Typical.



~Just kidding~

I had a professor in college who went to University of W with Ted Bundy and befriended him. Apparently he was charming, smart and a Republican's republican. My professor was the Democrat's Democrat. People who knew him said he was going somewhere, which of course is interesting in that he did go somewhere...but not where they had thought.

and what might tip them over the top.

I guess I was lucky, and of course totally ignorant of what lay ahead.
If it hadn't been for my neighbor with whom John seemed to have a very pleasant relationship-I wouldn't have asked him in anyway.

Just a few minutes ago I had to drive past that very corner of the street where he gave me that 'black' look, and it seems like only yesterday.
And now he's probably dead!

I still remember flying out of the Baltimore-DC Metro area at night when Muhammed and Malvo were still on the loose and looking down at the area below. I remember thinking to myself that the person or persons behind all this were down there somewhere, but I was powerless to know exactly where they were. It was just a really weird feeling. I got into home later that night, turned on the news, and found out there had been another shooting at a Home Depot, right in the area where I had flown over.

All that said, nothing good will be accomplished tonight. It will just be another pointless killing.

Glad your interaction was only limited to one afternoon. :scared:

If he had lied about being married--things might have turned out differently!
He was hot and he knew it.

Both the fact that you met this guy, and the fact that he is dying tonight. No question, the guy deserves it. But it is wrong for the state to kill.

What a terrifyingly small world it can be...

since he knew where you live/lived.

The photos published by media do show him to be unusually handsome.

Too bad we'll never learn what went into molding his attitudes.

Thanks for taking the time to share this experience. It will probably stay with you for some time yet.

I agree with your belief on the death penalty for anyone.

He is seriously mentally ill.

I went out with one of my friends who was dating Luke Helder. He seemed like a nice guy. She broke up with him when he started to get a bit weird. Luke's in a mental hospital at the moment.

and I'm terribly sorry--but could you please re-aquaint me with Luke Helder --I feel I should know that.

He was the one that planted the pipe bombs all over the country, hoping to make a literal smiley face on the US map with his bombs.

Luckily none was killed.

and he didn't lie about his family life so that association was nipped in the bud.

And for once my previous experience made me more careful too.

When I saw the first photos of the DC snipers--I recognized the man--but had forgotten the circumstances of our meeting, but as his history was being uncovered--it all came back to me.

I'm just a sucker for a pretty face---but not again I swear it!

THANKS for sharing, you never know who you will run into in this life. :scared:

with that said--I believe he's gone now.

I think he served in the first Gulf War and like so many other soldiers, changed when he came back.

He probably needed treatment, and never got it.

Women, you need to be very careful these days.

so I am a lot older, and just may be a smidgen wiser.