Jeff Kunerth: A Summary
Trout: a True Story of Murder, Teens, and the Death Penalty
Jeff Kunerth
On a cool Pensacola night in January 1991, just a few minutes before midnight, three teenagers pulled up to the Trout Auto Parts store. Patrick Bonifay, his body coursing with adrenaline, entered the store clad in a ski mask carrying a loaded gun, intent on carrying out a poorly laid plan. Little did he know that it was his life--as well as the lives of his companions--that was about to be forever changed. Patrick
Bonifay, Clifford Barth, and Eddie Fordham were hired to kill Daniel Wells by Robin Archer, who blamed Wells for losing his job nine months prior. The plan was orchestrated by the then-twenty-seven-year-old Archer, who allegedly promised his seventeen-year-old nephew, Patrick, a suitcase full of money after the job was done. But Wells had called in sick that night, and an innocent man was covering his shift. …show more content…
In this shocking and thought-provoking volume, Jeff Kunerth recounts the events of that fateful night, the swift investigation of the murder, the trials and sentencing of the teens, and their subsequent lives within the Florida court and penal systems.
Kunerth uses the story of the Trout Auto Parts murder and the lives of these boys to explore varying aspects of troubled adolescence, impulsive actions lasting but moments, and the national trend of trying juveniles as adults in court. The story of these three teenage boys provides a disturbing, sad, and compelling inside look at the dynamics of individuals--not yet adults, but no longer children--who commit senseless, impulsive crimes. Trout is that rare book that continues to haunt you long after you've finished reading it. (Abstract courtesy of fly leaf book cover, Trout: a True Story of Murder, Teens, and the Death
Penalty)
In Trout: a True Story of Murder, Teens, and the Death Penalty, the author Jeff Kunerth recounts the events leading up to a brutal murder, the investigation, and the trials and sentencing of the convicted murderers: three teenage boys living in small town Pensacola, Florida. Kunerth briefly introduces the young boys by providing a short outline of each of their childhoods, and offers varying aspects that could potentially explain the deviant actions of the three adolescents on that cool, fateful January night in the year 1991. From the beginning, as Kunerth explores the young lives of these three criminals, he suggests that the possibility of juveniles engaging in delinquent behaviors is heavily influenced by the conditions and circumstances of their individual upbringings. In other words, the poorly planned murder that occurred in a small auto store, Trout Auto Parts, could be heavily contributed to the early socialization of this small group of teenagers. This examination of the Trout Auto Parts murder seeks to further explore the troubled life and upbringing of the teenager who actually pulled the trigger: Patrick Bonifay. Many aspects of Patrick’s life in a broken home will be explored, and will be introduced in a manner that easily display’s the challenges and negative influences that deeply affect children being raised in homes similar to Patrick. First, the effects of growing up in a single-parent household will be analyzed, as well as the common struggles most single-parent households share due to living a life in poverty. In addition, the freedom and opportunities that a lack of supervision offers children will be recognized, as well as the increased risk of deviant behavior that follows as a consequence. Second, the effects of an absent father will be discussed, and the question of whether the absence of a deviant father is either beneficial or detrimental. Also, the effects of sexual abuse, and certain sociological theories, concerning juvenile delinquency, will be examined. Lastly, all of the social conditions and circumstances mentioned above, will be specifically applied to Patrick’s personal story, and all of these social factors will be closely paralleled to ideas and concepts found in the text, Juvenile Delinquency: The Core, fourth edition, written by Larry J. Siegel.
Upon taking a closer look at teenager, Patrick Bonifay, it is fair to assume that Siegel may have classified him as a juvenile that had many risk factors against him. In other words, from the beginning Patrick’s life involved many social factors that could possibly suggest, and in this case explain, Patrick as a strong prospect in the likelihood of being involved with criminal activity. Many of these social risk factors, that support this claim of Patrick’s alleged high risk status, can be contributed and linked to his broken family. Kunerth introduces Patrick’s family as a broken home, one in which at least one parent is absent, when he acknowledges that he grew up in a single-parent household due to his parents’ divorce when he was only two years old. Throughout the duration of the book it is apparent that living in a single-parent household presents many challenges to Patrick and his mother. Kunerth specifically notes that one of the main challenges this single-parent family faces is poverty. In fact, research from Siegel’s text illustrates that children raised in single-parent households are more likely to experience poverty and social complications compared to children raised in a two-parent household. Siegel also notes, in reference to poverty, that even best efforts and working a full-time job does not automatically save a family from poverty. This proves to be the truth concerning Patrick’s family whose sole provider, his single-mother, could not pull her family’s income above the poverty line despite working full time. Not only did this cause economic stress among their family, which serves as yet another social risk factor potentially leading to juvenile delinquency, but also had a significant impact on Patrick’s behavior due to the lack of inconsistent supervision. Kunerth mentions that while Patrick spent some time with his grandfather, most of the time he was either alone or under the supervision of estranged, extended family members staying at his home until they could afford a more permanent place to live. As a result, Patrick had more opportunity to be involved with delinquency, and more freedom that allowed him to cause trouble in his neighborhood. Siegel suggests that lack of supervision and delinquency are strongly associated because children tend to believe their parents do not care about their activities when they are mostly absent due to working long hours. Simply stated, Patrick’s risk of being involved with criminal activity was increased due to his inconsistent supervision that was a result of his single-mother working full time in attempt to supply him with necessities critical for survival. This ultimately suggests that juveniles raised in broken families are at greater risk of becoming involved with criminal behavior.
As mentioned above, research has found that broken families tend to have a negative impact on children, and that this specific family form can also quite often be linked to delinquent behavior. In Patrick’s case, it is apparent that living in a broken home, with only his struggling single-mother, presented many opportunities for him to get into trouble. Although, looking further into his situation it is also apparent that the absence of his father presented just as many issues, and served as another significant risk factor. From another perspective, it may also be seen as a benefit in this specific situation. At the early age of eight, Patrick had been repeatedly molested by his father. As a result, Patrick felt traumatized and would release his anger by hurting other kids through various acts of violence. However, violence was not the only repercussion of his father’s hurtful actions, and in addition Patrick suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder- making it very hard for him to concentrate in school. This is no surprise according to Siegel who mentions, in the text, that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is among one of the many symptoms common to victims of sexual abuse in early childhood. In addition, Siegel includes research that suggests a child not being able to concentrate in school only further encourages them to use aggression and violence as a mechanism to cope with the failure involved with their academics. In simplest terms, Patrick’s struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder lead him to become frustrated in school, and violence was the only way he knew how to deal with the stress. With that being said, the absence of Patrick’s father as a benefit can now be addressed. Siegel points out that young boys seem to be the most affected when the father is absent due to a lack of discipline and direction. However, Siegel also mentions that kids who have a present father that has previously been involved with anti-social behaviors, similar to Patrick’s father, display more problems concerning anti-social behaviors themselves. In other words, unless parents can demonstrate a lifestyle free of deviant behaviors, as well as be a consistent source of emotional and monetary support, children are more prone to anti-social behaviors with a deviant parent present. In reference to Patrick, this could suggest that given the circumstances, his chance of anti-social behavior are reduced without the influence of his deviant father. This may be true, but in any case, the sexual abuse that Patrick experienced as a child will always result in some degree of suffering with or without his father in the picture. Again, many social factors, such as broken homes and sexual abuse, can significantly increase the risk of juveniles committing themselves to delinquent lifestyles. It is these same social risk factors that may be the initial explanations for Patrick’s consistent pattern of criminal activity leading up until the Trout Auto Parts murder. It is also fair to note that the observance of social risk factors have had a compelling influence on sociological theories that have been developed in the attempt to further understand trends in juvenile delinquency. Along with the already mentioned social risk factors, numerous theories can be applied to Patrick’s personal story. Multiple theories exist but only two will be addressed specifically concerning Patrick: labeling theory and general strain theory.
Labeling theory demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between society and individuals. It suggests, according to Siegel, that individual behavior is a determinant of society and its reaction toward individuals, as well as individual’s reactions toward society. Therefore, labeling theory implies that society ultimately creates deviance by classifying certain individuals as delinquent, and as a result the individual accepts this negative classification as their personal identity. Individuals are usually labeled by social control agents: the police, the courts, teachers, parents, and neighbors. Siegel also notes that internalizing these powerful, and most often negative labels, can essentially constitute and maintain deviant lifestyles. Kunerth presents vivid explanations which could be specifically related to labeling theory and Patrick Bonifay, and he also clearly illustrates that in Patrick's case the labeling started at a very young age. In fact, as early as he was old enough to start school, Patrick was a constant concern for his school leaders. He was always in trouble and his teachers would frequently notify his mother of numerous issues. Upon continual conversations between his school teachers and his mother, with Patrick present, the teachers would refer to him as "hyperactive" and "emotionally disturbed". They would complain that Patrick would not sit still or pay attention, he would not share with the other kids, and most importantly they would stress his consistent fighting with the other classmates- Patrick was a "trouble-maker". Patrick's mother, mostly influenced by his school teachers, agreed to put him in classes for kids with emotional disabilities. This, along with the many labels he had received from school officials, further ingrained deviance into Patrick's personal identity, and as a result he believed that the only way to get what he wanted was through violence. During one incident Patrick even broke a fellow classmate's jaw in the school parking lot over a minor disagreement. It was reoccurring instances such as this that lead to his expulsion from high school at age sixteen which introduced yet another problem to young Patrick. The event of his expulsion only further assured him that he was a failure and further increased his violent behaviors. This supports the evidence presented by Siegel that implies recognition, by social control agents, of deviant behavior may result in a negative label that could possibly follow the individual throughout their lifetime. It also suggests that Patrick has "self-labeled" and accepted his delinquent role which Siegel concludes only strengthens one's commitment to a deviant lifestyle. In short summary, as expressed through labeling theory, Patrick had internalized labels that have described him as deviant and ultimately began to transform his personal identity from hopeful to permanently delinquent.
As mentioned earlier, labeling theory is not the only sociological theory applicable to Patrick's story. Robert Merton's strain theory is another that can easily be related to the life of Patrick Bonifay. This specific theory, in addition to multiple social risk factors and labeling theory, may serve as another explanation for his extensive deviant behavior. In his theory, Merton suggests that kids may become discouraged because they are not provided with the essential means for accomplishing the goal set forth by society to be successful. Simply stated, delinquent teenagers may actually have goals that are common to those of other teenagers who are not associated with delinquency, but in comparison they feel frustrated. These teens feel strained, the feeling of hopelessness that is initiated by failure to achieve social goals, because they are not presented with the same opportunities and means that allow them to achieve success. This proves to be the case for Patrick, a young boy who once dreamed of growing up and becoming a pilot, but progressively felt overcome and limited by his upbringing involved with poverty and abuse. As Patrick began to feel discouraged and hopeless, he also started to believe that he did not compare to other kids at school and would physically attack them in attempt to lower their value and somehow elevate his own. Patrick's behavior supports what Siegel classifies as "strain caused by failure to achieve positively valued goals". This type of strain is modeled because Patrick had internalized a positive valued goal to grow up and become successful, but had become frustrated and disappointed because certain aspects in his life, one being poverty, lead him toward a deviant lifestyle that even further prolonged his success in school and other social areas. Violence was not the only set back, and Patrick resorted to robbery so he could have things that his single-mother could not provide for him. The point here is that Patrick's personal story closely parallels with what Merton's strain theory suggests: strain caused by failure to achieve goals, due to poverty and other social risk factors, had further instilled deviance into Patrick's lifestyle because he felt as though it was the only option he had for success.
In conclusion, it can be determined that socialization, including social risk factors, has a major impact on a child’s development and behavior. This is clearly evident upon examining the specific conditions and circumstances of Patrick Bonifay’s troubled upbringing. First, many aspects of Patrick’s life in a broken home were explored, and it was found that this lifestyle presented many challenges to him and his single-mother. For example, despite Patrick’s mother and her best efforts, including working a full time job, she could not raise enough money to supply them with necessities critical for survival. As a result, Patrick’s mother remained working full-time, the family struggled with poverty, and in turn Patrick was allowed more freedom and opportunity to engage in deviant behavior due to the lack of supervision. Second, in addition to being raised in a single-parent household, the effects of having an absent father were also considered. It is apparent that this may cause some serious emotional trauma because of the lack of direction, discipline, attention, and simply the emotional stress involved with neglect, but the idea of an absent father being perceived as a benefit was introduced and contemplated. This idea, an absent father as a benefit, was specifically applied to Patrick’s life story, and it was determined that in his case it could be seen as an advantage because he would no longer be exposed to the deviant behavior of his father. Although the absence of Patrick’s father could potentially decrease the risk of repeating his father’s deviant behavior, it was acknowledged that Patrick’s life would forever be impacted by his father’s actions, with or without him present, due to the fact that Patrick had been molested by his father at any early age. In other words, as a result of being a victim of sexual abuse, Patrick developed behavioral problems that made it difficult to concentrate in school, and ultimately lead Patrick to resort to violence as a defense mechanism. Third, Patrick’s case was specifically applied to two sociological theories, labeling theory and general strain theory, and through the both of them it was suggested that Patrick had internalized a deviant lifestyle that would most likely follow him throughout the rest of his lifetime. To conclude, Patrick’s internalized deviant lifestyle, as a result of his troubled socialization, ultimately lead him to that fateful night when he pulled the trigger at Trout Auto Parts.
2,567 words
Jeff Kunerth
On a cool Pensacola night in January 1991, just a few minutes before midnight, three teenagers pulled up to the Trout Auto Parts store. Patrick Bonifay, his body coursing with adrenaline, entered the store clad in a ski mask carrying a loaded gun, intent on carrying out a poorly laid plan. Little did he know that it was his life--as well as the lives of his companions--that was about to be forever changed. Patrick
Bonifay, Clifford Barth, and Eddie Fordham were hired to kill Daniel Wells by Robin Archer, who blamed Wells for losing his job nine months prior. The plan was orchestrated by the then-twenty-seven-year-old Archer, who allegedly promised his seventeen-year-old nephew, Patrick, a suitcase full of money after the job was done. But Wells had called in sick that night, and an innocent man was covering his shift. …show more content…
In this shocking and thought-provoking volume, Jeff Kunerth recounts the events of that fateful night, the swift investigation of the murder, the trials and sentencing of the teens, and their subsequent lives within the Florida court and penal systems.
Kunerth uses the story of the Trout Auto Parts murder and the lives of these boys to explore varying aspects of troubled adolescence, impulsive actions lasting but moments, and the national trend of trying juveniles as adults in court. The story of these three teenage boys provides a disturbing, sad, and compelling inside look at the dynamics of individuals--not yet adults, but no longer children--who commit senseless, impulsive crimes. Trout is that rare book that continues to haunt you long after you've finished reading it. (Abstract courtesy of fly leaf book cover, Trout: a True Story of Murder, Teens, and the Death
Penalty)
In Trout: a True Story of Murder, Teens, and the Death Penalty, the author Jeff Kunerth recounts the events leading up to a brutal murder, the investigation, and the trials and sentencing of the convicted murderers: three teenage boys living in small town Pensacola, Florida. Kunerth briefly introduces the young boys by providing a short outline of each of their childhoods, and offers varying aspects that could potentially explain the deviant actions of the three adolescents on that cool, fateful January night in the year 1991. From the beginning, as Kunerth explores the young lives of these three criminals, he suggests that the possibility of juveniles engaging in delinquent behaviors is heavily influenced by the conditions and circumstances of their individual upbringings. In other words, the poorly planned murder that occurred in a small auto store, Trout Auto Parts, could be heavily contributed to the early socialization of this small group of teenagers. This examination of the Trout Auto Parts murder seeks to further explore the troubled life and upbringing of the teenager who actually pulled the trigger: Patrick Bonifay. Many aspects of Patrick’s life in a broken home will be explored, and will be introduced in a manner that easily display’s the challenges and negative influences that deeply affect children being raised in homes similar to Patrick. First, the effects of growing up in a single-parent household will be analyzed, as well as the common struggles most single-parent households share due to living a life in poverty. In addition, the freedom and opportunities that a lack of supervision offers children will be recognized, as well as the increased risk of deviant behavior that follows as a consequence. Second, the effects of an absent father will be discussed, and the question of whether the absence of a deviant father is either beneficial or detrimental. Also, the effects of sexual abuse, and certain sociological theories, concerning juvenile delinquency, will be examined. Lastly, all of the social conditions and circumstances mentioned above, will be specifically applied to Patrick’s personal story, and all of these social factors will be closely paralleled to ideas and concepts found in the text, Juvenile Delinquency: The Core, fourth edition, written by Larry J. Siegel.
Upon taking a closer look at teenager, Patrick Bonifay, it is fair to assume that Siegel may have classified him as a juvenile that had many risk factors against him. In other words, from the beginning Patrick’s life involved many social factors that could possibly suggest, and in this case explain, Patrick as a strong prospect in the likelihood of being involved with criminal activity. Many of these social risk factors, that support this claim of Patrick’s alleged high risk status, can be contributed and linked to his broken family. Kunerth introduces Patrick’s family as a broken home, one in which at least one parent is absent, when he acknowledges that he grew up in a single-parent household due to his parents’ divorce when he was only two years old. Throughout the duration of the book it is apparent that living in a single-parent household presents many challenges to Patrick and his mother. Kunerth specifically notes that one of the main challenges this single-parent family faces is poverty. In fact, research from Siegel’s text illustrates that children raised in single-parent households are more likely to experience poverty and social complications compared to children raised in a two-parent household. Siegel also notes, in reference to poverty, that even best efforts and working a full-time job does not automatically save a family from poverty. This proves to be the truth concerning Patrick’s family whose sole provider, his single-mother, could not pull her family’s income above the poverty line despite working full time. Not only did this cause economic stress among their family, which serves as yet another social risk factor potentially leading to juvenile delinquency, but also had a significant impact on Patrick’s behavior due to the lack of inconsistent supervision. Kunerth mentions that while Patrick spent some time with his grandfather, most of the time he was either alone or under the supervision of estranged, extended family members staying at his home until they could afford a more permanent place to live. As a result, Patrick had more opportunity to be involved with delinquency, and more freedom that allowed him to cause trouble in his neighborhood. Siegel suggests that lack of supervision and delinquency are strongly associated because children tend to believe their parents do not care about their activities when they are mostly absent due to working long hours. Simply stated, Patrick’s risk of being involved with criminal activity was increased due to his inconsistent supervision that was a result of his single-mother working full time in attempt to supply him with necessities critical for survival. This ultimately suggests that juveniles raised in broken families are at greater risk of becoming involved with criminal behavior.
As mentioned above, research has found that broken families tend to have a negative impact on children, and that this specific family form can also quite often be linked to delinquent behavior. In Patrick’s case, it is apparent that living in a broken home, with only his struggling single-mother, presented many opportunities for him to get into trouble. Although, looking further into his situation it is also apparent that the absence of his father presented just as many issues, and served as another significant risk factor. From another perspective, it may also be seen as a benefit in this specific situation. At the early age of eight, Patrick had been repeatedly molested by his father. As a result, Patrick felt traumatized and would release his anger by hurting other kids through various acts of violence. However, violence was not the only repercussion of his father’s hurtful actions, and in addition Patrick suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder- making it very hard for him to concentrate in school. This is no surprise according to Siegel who mentions, in the text, that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is among one of the many symptoms common to victims of sexual abuse in early childhood. In addition, Siegel includes research that suggests a child not being able to concentrate in school only further encourages them to use aggression and violence as a mechanism to cope with the failure involved with their academics. In simplest terms, Patrick’s struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder lead him to become frustrated in school, and violence was the only way he knew how to deal with the stress. With that being said, the absence of Patrick’s father as a benefit can now be addressed. Siegel points out that young boys seem to be the most affected when the father is absent due to a lack of discipline and direction. However, Siegel also mentions that kids who have a present father that has previously been involved with anti-social behaviors, similar to Patrick’s father, display more problems concerning anti-social behaviors themselves. In other words, unless parents can demonstrate a lifestyle free of deviant behaviors, as well as be a consistent source of emotional and monetary support, children are more prone to anti-social behaviors with a deviant parent present. In reference to Patrick, this could suggest that given the circumstances, his chance of anti-social behavior are reduced without the influence of his deviant father. This may be true, but in any case, the sexual abuse that Patrick experienced as a child will always result in some degree of suffering with or without his father in the picture. Again, many social factors, such as broken homes and sexual abuse, can significantly increase the risk of juveniles committing themselves to delinquent lifestyles. It is these same social risk factors that may be the initial explanations for Patrick’s consistent pattern of criminal activity leading up until the Trout Auto Parts murder. It is also fair to note that the observance of social risk factors have had a compelling influence on sociological theories that have been developed in the attempt to further understand trends in juvenile delinquency. Along with the already mentioned social risk factors, numerous theories can be applied to Patrick’s personal story. Multiple theories exist but only two will be addressed specifically concerning Patrick: labeling theory and general strain theory.
Labeling theory demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between society and individuals. It suggests, according to Siegel, that individual behavior is a determinant of society and its reaction toward individuals, as well as individual’s reactions toward society. Therefore, labeling theory implies that society ultimately creates deviance by classifying certain individuals as delinquent, and as a result the individual accepts this negative classification as their personal identity. Individuals are usually labeled by social control agents: the police, the courts, teachers, parents, and neighbors. Siegel also notes that internalizing these powerful, and most often negative labels, can essentially constitute and maintain deviant lifestyles. Kunerth presents vivid explanations which could be specifically related to labeling theory and Patrick Bonifay, and he also clearly illustrates that in Patrick's case the labeling started at a very young age. In fact, as early as he was old enough to start school, Patrick was a constant concern for his school leaders. He was always in trouble and his teachers would frequently notify his mother of numerous issues. Upon continual conversations between his school teachers and his mother, with Patrick present, the teachers would refer to him as "hyperactive" and "emotionally disturbed". They would complain that Patrick would not sit still or pay attention, he would not share with the other kids, and most importantly they would stress his consistent fighting with the other classmates- Patrick was a "trouble-maker". Patrick's mother, mostly influenced by his school teachers, agreed to put him in classes for kids with emotional disabilities. This, along with the many labels he had received from school officials, further ingrained deviance into Patrick's personal identity, and as a result he believed that the only way to get what he wanted was through violence. During one incident Patrick even broke a fellow classmate's jaw in the school parking lot over a minor disagreement. It was reoccurring instances such as this that lead to his expulsion from high school at age sixteen which introduced yet another problem to young Patrick. The event of his expulsion only further assured him that he was a failure and further increased his violent behaviors. This supports the evidence presented by Siegel that implies recognition, by social control agents, of deviant behavior may result in a negative label that could possibly follow the individual throughout their lifetime. It also suggests that Patrick has "self-labeled" and accepted his delinquent role which Siegel concludes only strengthens one's commitment to a deviant lifestyle. In short summary, as expressed through labeling theory, Patrick had internalized labels that have described him as deviant and ultimately began to transform his personal identity from hopeful to permanently delinquent.
As mentioned earlier, labeling theory is not the only sociological theory applicable to Patrick's story. Robert Merton's strain theory is another that can easily be related to the life of Patrick Bonifay. This specific theory, in addition to multiple social risk factors and labeling theory, may serve as another explanation for his extensive deviant behavior. In his theory, Merton suggests that kids may become discouraged because they are not provided with the essential means for accomplishing the goal set forth by society to be successful. Simply stated, delinquent teenagers may actually have goals that are common to those of other teenagers who are not associated with delinquency, but in comparison they feel frustrated. These teens feel strained, the feeling of hopelessness that is initiated by failure to achieve social goals, because they are not presented with the same opportunities and means that allow them to achieve success. This proves to be the case for Patrick, a young boy who once dreamed of growing up and becoming a pilot, but progressively felt overcome and limited by his upbringing involved with poverty and abuse. As Patrick began to feel discouraged and hopeless, he also started to believe that he did not compare to other kids at school and would physically attack them in attempt to lower their value and somehow elevate his own. Patrick's behavior supports what Siegel classifies as "strain caused by failure to achieve positively valued goals". This type of strain is modeled because Patrick had internalized a positive valued goal to grow up and become successful, but had become frustrated and disappointed because certain aspects in his life, one being poverty, lead him toward a deviant lifestyle that even further prolonged his success in school and other social areas. Violence was not the only set back, and Patrick resorted to robbery so he could have things that his single-mother could not provide for him. The point here is that Patrick's personal story closely parallels with what Merton's strain theory suggests: strain caused by failure to achieve goals, due to poverty and other social risk factors, had further instilled deviance into Patrick's lifestyle because he felt as though it was the only option he had for success.
In conclusion, it can be determined that socialization, including social risk factors, has a major impact on a child’s development and behavior. This is clearly evident upon examining the specific conditions and circumstances of Patrick Bonifay’s troubled upbringing. First, many aspects of Patrick’s life in a broken home were explored, and it was found that this lifestyle presented many challenges to him and his single-mother. For example, despite Patrick’s mother and her best efforts, including working a full time job, she could not raise enough money to supply them with necessities critical for survival. As a result, Patrick’s mother remained working full-time, the family struggled with poverty, and in turn Patrick was allowed more freedom and opportunity to engage in deviant behavior due to the lack of supervision. Second, in addition to being raised in a single-parent household, the effects of having an absent father were also considered. It is apparent that this may cause some serious emotional trauma because of the lack of direction, discipline, attention, and simply the emotional stress involved with neglect, but the idea of an absent father being perceived as a benefit was introduced and contemplated. This idea, an absent father as a benefit, was specifically applied to Patrick’s life story, and it was determined that in his case it could be seen as an advantage because he would no longer be exposed to the deviant behavior of his father. Although the absence of Patrick’s father could potentially decrease the risk of repeating his father’s deviant behavior, it was acknowledged that Patrick’s life would forever be impacted by his father’s actions, with or without him present, due to the fact that Patrick had been molested by his father at any early age. In other words, as a result of being a victim of sexual abuse, Patrick developed behavioral problems that made it difficult to concentrate in school, and ultimately lead Patrick to resort to violence as a defense mechanism. Third, Patrick’s case was specifically applied to two sociological theories, labeling theory and general strain theory, and through the both of them it was suggested that Patrick had internalized a deviant lifestyle that would most likely follow him throughout the rest of his lifetime. To conclude, Patrick’s internalized deviant lifestyle, as a result of his troubled socialization, ultimately lead him to that fateful night when he pulled the trigger at Trout Auto Parts.
2,567 words