Reader comments
Son accused of killing Orem dad

Kelly | 9:34 a.m. June 16, 2008

Oh what a tragedy! I am a friend of Elaine's and my heart breaks for her and all of her boys and family. My sympathy is with her...so sad.

Randy | 9:54 a.m. June 16, 2008

I know Michael and he should have been put away in 2005 for life. He was a ticking Timebomb and should have been dealt with then. This could have been avoided.

Wow... on Fathers Day! | 9:58 a.m. June 16, 2008

Just terrible!

Comments continue below

ErinN | 10:23 a.m. June 16, 2008

My prayers are with the family.

Why was he released | 11:34 a.m. June 16, 2008

He never should have been released the first time when he stabbed someone at the mental health hospital. Why was he back in general population? This truly shows the failure and mismanagement of the Utah mental health system.

Nobody knows | 11:42 a.m. June 16, 2008

Nobody knows how desperately we try to help our severely troubled children and how little help there is out there for them, especially if they are in such a mental state to refuse treatment or medication. Once a child reaches 18, the parents hands are tied--no matter how much they know he needs help desperately.
In our modern time of "rights," it's extremely difficult to get a person committed to a facility where both they and society will be safe--this idea of keeping a patient a few days and letting them out bears terrible fruit.
This sad tragedy could have been prevented if we had better facilities for the mentally ill and the courts would allow people to be committed to them. If you are mentally ill, you are the last person to be making sane judgments about your needs.
My heart goes out to this family.

nice fathers day gift | 12:20 p.m. June 16, 2008

what a screwed up world we live in. This sort of things seems to happen all the time now.

Juan Figuroa | 1:34 p.m. June 16, 2008

To NFDG: It's not a screwed up world. It's a son suffering from debilitating schizophrenia, and it doesn't reflect on the entire world. It's just a tragic event in the life of one family.

Mental illness has been going on since the dawn of time. My prayers are with them; I'm sure yours are, too.

There's no need to horriblize it into some sort of commentary about all of humanity.

Kelly | 1:55 p.m. June 16, 2008

I know Elaine and Chris. As parents and neighbors they were the most considerate, compassionate, forgiving and supportive people I know. Sometimes I think love overrules our natural instincts. I dont think they would have felt safe with him in the house if he wasnt their son, they shouldnt have felt safe with him there even though he was. If he is dangerous, he is dangerous. They were just trying to do what they thought was best for their son at great risk to themselves. We will all miss Chris- he was the most fascinating teacher I have ever known. Elaine is strong and has been through alot, but this is going to be her steepest hill yet to climb. Elaine and Chris.. I love you both.

Horriblize? | 1:57 p.m. June 16, 2008

Anonymous | 2:20 p.m. June 16, 2008

He should have been left in the hospital or in jail anyone who has stabbed someone in jail or wherever he was at should have known this was bound to happen. what a shame our sytem is so screwed up..

linda a. | 2:34 p.m. June 16, 2008

I know Elaine and Chris. Two wonderful people, wonderful friends and neighbors, wonderful examples of faith. Elaine we love you so much, both of you! our prayers are with you and your family.

That's so sad... | 3:18 p.m. June 16, 2008

What a terrible thing to happen at all, let alone on Father's Day! I feel so bad that things like this happen.

Lack of trust | 3:47 p.m. June 16, 2008

A tragic story that illustrates the limits of mental health workers in properly evaluating individual cases.

The human mind is much too complex to make anything but broad generalizations regarding mental illnesses.

In hindsight, this man was still a very sick individual who wasn't ready to rejoin society.

Paul | 11:10 p.m. June 16, 2008

The deputy county attorney commented: "...he's going to assert, 'Hey, I can't control my actions'...". I used to come to the same sarcastic conclusion in these situations, until it became clear that someone I love suffers from bipolar disorder. I've now come to believe that unless you have experienced mental illness first hand (i.e., a very close family member), you may not fully comprehend it. You can read about it in a book, but it's difficult to appreciate that some of these illnesses really do cause people to do very irrational, destructive, shocking things that they would not do if their brain chemistry were normal. Finding the right meds can be hit and miss. If it hasn't struck someone in your family, count your blessings, and try not to judge.

Justin | 11:48 p.m. June 16, 2008

I knew the family, including Michael, and let me tell you, that guy is PURE EVIL!! I cannot believe they let him into their own home even though he's their own son. But I do not blame the parents; I blame Michael and the corrupt system that refuses to lock up psychos like this guy for life. That scary thing is that Michael will probably be set free after using the insanity defense. I'm sorry, but if you're supposedly mentally ill AND have a violent history, that's even more reason to lock you away!

mike j. | 3:53 a.m. June 19, 2008

i know and am good friends of atleast three of the kirsch's sons and while i never knew michael or the parents my heart goes out to those siblings affected... to those who say they knew michael and that he should have been locked away for good i say that they are the lost ones... to feel that an individual life is lost and that they should be forgotten about. that is the type of thinking that leads an individual to make such an act of desperation... if others had not given up so easily, who knows what he could have achieved.

Sandra B | 9:01 a.m. June 21, 2008

I worked with Chris at DHL RSO and always enjoyed our conversations. I often said that he should be a professor and actually nicked named him Professor "P". I remember when Eliane was pregant with the youngest. He was truly a proud father and loved Eliane. We too have a family member with the same illness and understand how frightening it can get but that does not stop you from loving them. My prayers to Eliane and the kids.

Marianne | 12:50 a.m. June 27, 2008

Best wishes to all who were affected by this.
My heart goes out to this family.

I too have a family member that is seriously mentally ill.
It is a seriously painful situtation for all involved.
I count my blessings that my family member is not a violent one.

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