Teens In The News: Patrick Armstrong
In a chilling reminder of the lessons being learned from David Ludwig and Kara Borden, news broke yesterday morning that — for the second time in less than a month — a homeschool teen has been arrested for murder.
Patrick Armstrong, a 14-year-old homeschooler from Fayette, Maine, has been charged with killing his neighbor, Marlee Johnston, 14. Both teens lived in the same neighborhood where, last Saturday, Marlee’s body was found in a nearby pond, after she failed to return from a walk with the family dogs.
The Morning Sentinel reports:
Maine State Police are being extremely tight-lipped about the case. They have not released a cause of death, outlined a motive for the killing, or detailed the types of interactions the two teenagers might have had. The Medical Examiner’s Office said the office is withholding the cause of death at the request of the Attorney General’s Office.
It has been reported that certain personal websites published by Armstrong, which are not publically accessible, demonstrated a troubled and angst-ridden teen.
A troubled and angst-ridden homeschooler? That’s right. And yet another who is likely a murderer.
This is tragic. And yet, it is also sobering. As we have discussed over the past few weeks: homeschooling, by itself, is not enough to prevent tragedies like this from happening. Going to church, by itself, is not enough to prevent tragedies like this from happening. Both of those things are good, but while many things are used by God as means of imparting His grace, they are not grace itself. To claim otherwise is to make homeschooling, or church, or a book, or a blog, or a method, or a mere human being — rather than Christ — our god.
The past month has been a wake-up call to the homeschool community and the body of Christ as a whole. Let us firmly resolve not to slip back into complacency.
May God have mercy.
Other bloggers covering the story: SpunkyHomeschool, Agent Tim, and Spunky Junior.
December 3rd, 2005 at 7:51 am
This is terrible. Amazing.
You are right. We need to not become complacent. Gradualism is Satan’s greatest weaponry. Because I’ve never heard of anybody ‘gradually’ making a decision for Christ, but I’ve seen people gradually decide to reject the cross that we must all take up, in order to follow Christ.
I read this information a while ago, but I just now noticed his shirt. On David ludwig, I noticed shirtlessness, but on Patrick, I see a skull and crossbones.
I don’t know if he did it or not, but it seems fairly obvious that young Mr. Armstrong is a very confused boy.
December 3rd, 2005 at 6:36 pm
What a sad story. One thing too guys, even church and homeschooling combined are not enough to keep us from that. I hate to keep bringing up the same quote, but “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” That quote has been popping up a lot lately, at least in my life. I had never heard it till about three weeks ago when my mom used it, and then you two posted about it shortly after…man.
It’s very humbling, yet very sobering.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Thank the Lord for his grace, love, and desire and willingness to save all.
God bless!
December 3rd, 2005 at 9:41 pm
All of these stories depress me. It is terribly sad to see this all happening, and I believe that none (or very little) of it has to do with the homeschoooling. I’d like to know your opinions about whether or not you think it is the parenting, homeschooling or some other pressure which causes issues like this among teenagers.
I think teenagers acting way more adult and out of the normal is a rising concern which needs to be addressed on this web page.
Thanks,
Cait
December 3rd, 2005 at 10:43 pm
Cait, Is it parenting? Maybe. Is it homeschooling? Maybe. Is it the heart of man? Absolutely. The heart of man is desperately wicked. There is none that do good not even one. These are not teens acting like adults. This is a sinner acting like a sinner. Children and adults are not taught to deny themselves for the cause of Christ. That happens both in the homeschool and non homeschooling ciricles. We so focus on the child and “what’s best” for them and they come to believe that life is about them. They seek to please themselves and put their desires ahead of all else. This young man just expressed it in its most tragic form.
Life is not about us. It is about Jesus and denying self. Sadly, even within homeschooling this message is not readily obvious in most teens. They hide behind academic succcess and other “acceptable pursuits”. But in the end they are not serving the Savior they are serving self.
December 4th, 2005 at 12:13 am
So true, Spunky. Thank you for that comment.
Sarah
July 9th, 2006 at 3:53 am
I’d like to know why you think home schooling is inherently a good thing. Doesn’t it depend on the quality of what, if anything, is being taught at home. In the Armstrong case, there is no indication that he was being brought up in a home with decent values.
I don’t think that what happened necessarily has anything to do with the fact that he was home schooled, but I don’t think that home schooling has any value at all in preventing such things either.
August 26th, 2006 at 3:39 am
Dear RBLAU: What you are saying about the quality of homeschooling is right. If the person being home educated is not being taught anything or is left to himself, then there is very little, if any quality at all.
But I don’t know about your last statement. You said, “I don’t think that home schooling has any value at all in preventing such things.” Home schooling, in the right hands, has the power to shape a noble character. If parents, who are submitted under the leadership of the Lord God, with the hearts of Christ, teach their children all they can about godly virtues, with the Lord’s blessing on that person’s life, there can be soo much value and it could prevent something as grevious as a murder. Home schooling gives parents this one on one time with children that public schools cannot. Therefore, I say that it does have value to prevent such things.
As far as blaming parents for this crime- that can’t be the case. Certainly they have a role in it, but we are sinful, humans and are capable of any evil without the grace and power of Jesus Christ.
I personally know this young man. When I was in High school, we were part of the same home school group. My heart was so burdened by this news, for the poor girl who lost her life, but even more for this poor boy. He has certainly lost his soul to satan. Please continue to pray for him, for his salvation and for the salvation of his mother, father and sister.
Sorry that this was so long- I’m a little long winded! : )
Amanda