The parents of James Holmes recently explained that their son is severely mentally ill and asked he be spared the death penalty. Holmes is accused of killing numerous people at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Robert and Arlene Holmes said they were aware of the great harm their son caused, noting, “We are always praying for everyone in Aurora. We wish that July 20, 2012, never happened.” They also recognized the sentiments among some that their son be executed: “We have read postings on the Internet that have likened him to a monster. He is not a monster. He is a human being gripped by a severe mental illness.” They hoped he would either be allowed to plead guilty and receive a life without parole sentence, or be found not guilty by reason of insanity, so “he could go to an institution that provides treatment for the mentally ill for the remainder of his life.”

Holmes’s trial is expected to begin in January, 2015.

(R. and A. Holmes, “James Holmes’ parents: Our son is mentally ill;” J. Ingold, “James Holmes’ parents plead for him to be spared from death penalty,” Denver Post, December 19, 2014). See Mental Illness and New Voices.

Citation Guide