Suspect in death of 2-year-old boy: 'I hate myself tremendously'
ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Mark Vanderhoof sat silently on Wednesday as a video was played for a Douglas County judge of detectives interviewing him about the alleged murder of a 2-year-old boy.
Vanderhoof, 53, is being charged with four counts of murder. The charges stem from the death of 2-year-old Dennis James Young, who died from severe head injuries in January 2011.
Prosecutors say Vanderhoof beat the boy so severely that he had to be transported to a Portland hospital in critical condition.
A video was shown, in which Vanderhoof talks to a detective about what exactly happened that day.
He said in the video that he struck Dennis when the boy wouldn't stop messing with a dog.
In the video, Vanderhoof says, "I hate myself tremendously."
He said that he was upset, and that he overreacted and he didn't mean for it to cause an injury.
Prior to that day, Vanderhoof said he never hit the boy.
He also said he felt angry as a kid when his own father hit him. He said he needs counseling for his anger, hurt, and coping.
The trial is expected to last through the week.
Four counts of murder? If convicted time for execution.
Can someone explain how he is charged with 4 counts of murder, although there was 1 victim? Thanks in advance.
Way to go: blame Your own abuse to get some sympathy. While I do understand that abuse can lead to you continuing the cycle, the time to have gotten help and sympathy would have been BEFORE YOU KILLED A TWO YEAR OLD INNOCENT.
And for those of you who wonât read the entire post: Iâm NOT saying that HIS abuse is irrelevant, just that IF it is true, he should have gotten help BEFORE he injured someone else.
@angelgabe , agreed. That's how I see it too.
I come from a background of very severe abuse. I'd been subjected to such for up to 12 years straight, each year, worse then the last.
I am non-violent, won't harm anyone no matter how upset I get and my background and record supports this. Basically, the only way I could hurt anyone is in self-defense...only.
This guy is without excuse as I see it.