Maine gunman’s brain sample to be examined for military service-related injuries
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
4:22 PM – Monday, December 11, 2023
A tissue sample from the brain of Robert Card, the man who killed 18 people and wounded 13 others in Maine, has been sent to a Massachusetts lab to be examined for indications of injury linked to his time serving in the military.
On Monday, officials announced that a tissue sample from the brain of a gunman who murdered 18 people and injured 13 others has been delivered to a laboratory in Boston, Massachusetts, in order to be analyzed for signs of injury or trauma possibly connected to his service in the Army Reserves.
The effort to find any signs of damage in Card’s brain was ordered by the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
To determine whether brain damage from his work as a grenade instructor contributed to the psychological collapse of the Maine mass shooter, medical scientists have sent brain tissue samples to an independently-run research lab located at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Card, who was a 40-year-old military instructor, murdered 18 people and injured 13 others in the October 25th mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. The shootings occured in a bowling alley and at a bar in the Lewiston area.
Two days after the shootings took place, Card’s body was discovered in a nearby town. A medical examiner concluded that Card had taken his own life.
The tragedy was named the deadliest in Maine’s history and immediately generated questions regarding Card’s mental health and previous life history as someone who served in the military.
A spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office described the additional steps in the investigation as a topic of thoroughness “due to the combined history of military experience and actions.”
“In an event such as this, people are left with more questions than answers. It is our belief that if we can conduct testing (in-house or outsourced) that may shed light on some of those answers, we have a responsibility to do that,” Lindsey Chasteen, the medical examiner’s office administrator, wrote in an email.
The tissue samples were delivered to a laboratory at Boston University that primarily focuses on problems related to brain trauma, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The problems focused on Card’s exposure to ongoing explosions while instructing cadets in the United States Military Academy, where he dealt with firearms, anti-tank weapons, and grenades at West Point, New York.
He was also hospitalized after dealing with multiple psychotic episodes and even told certain colleagues that he had been “hearing voices.” Additionally, Card had threatened those at the military base where he was stationed.
Card’s family stated that prior to spending two weeks in the hospital last summer at West Point for reservist training, he was acting in a “paranoid and delusional manner.”
Card’s fellow soldiers began to act suspicious, enough so that his access to guns was limited when he left the hospital. His fellow servicemen told superiors that he was acting “erratically” and was a possible risk to himself and the community.
As a result, military academy officials asked law enforcement to get involved, however, Card was eventually freed from the hospital and permitted to carry on as an Army Reservist.
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What role did Card’s military background and experiences play in the investigation of the shooting?
The investigation into the Maine mass shooting that took place on October 25, 2023, has taken a new turn as officials announced that a tissue sample from the brain of the gunman, Robert Card, has been sent to a Massachusetts lab for examination. The purpose of this analysis is to determine whether there are any indications of injury or trauma linked to Card’s time serving in the military.
The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner ordered the examination of Card’s brain tissue to ascertain whether any brain damage resulting from his work as a grenade instructor may have contributed to his psychological deterioration, ultimately leading to the mass shooting. The brain tissue samples have been sent to an independently-run research lab at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Robert Card, a 40-year-old military instructor, killed 18 people and injured 13 others during the shooting spree at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine. Two days after the shootings, Card’s body was found in a nearby town, with the medical examiner concluding that he had taken his own life.
Given Card’s military background, questions concerning his mental health and prior life history have arisen. The investigation is being conducted with thoroughness due to the combined history of military experience and actions. Lindsey Chasteen, administrator of the medical examiner’s office, emphasized the importance of conducting testing to provide answers and shed light on the tragedy.
The tissue samples were delivered to a laboratory at Boston University that specializes in studying brain trauma, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Card’s exposure to ongoing explosions while instructing cadets at the United States Military Academy, where he dealt with firearms, anti-tank weapons, and grenades, is a focal point of the analysis.
Card’s mental state was also a cause for concern, as he had experienced multiple psychotic episodes and had reportedly claimed to be “hearing voices.” He had even made threats against individuals at the military base where he was stationed. Card’s family revealed that he had been acting in a paranoid and delusional manner prior to his hospitalization for reservist training at West Point.
Fellow soldiers and colleagues raised suspicions about Card’s behavior, leading to restrictions on his access to firearms after his hospitalization. They reported that he was acting erratically and posed a possible risk to himself and the community. Despite these concerns, Card was ultimately allowed to continue as an Army Reservist.
The findings from the analysis of Card’s brain tissue will shed light on whether his military service contributed to the tragic events of the mass shooting. By understanding the impact of his experiences on his mental health, it is hoped that measures can be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In the wake of this devastating event, it is crucial that efforts are made to learn from it and ensure that every necessary precaution is taken to protect people’s safety. By conducting thorough investigations, such as the analysis of Card’s brain tissue, authorities can gain valuable insights to inform preventative measures and enhance public safety.
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