#cassie stodart

[criminol]

The Murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart

Cassie Jo Stoddart was a 16-year-old high school student. She loved music and drawing. Cassie was a helpful girl and loved to take care of her uncle and aunt's home and animals when they left town.

On the night of 22nd September 2006, Cassie was house-sitting for her aunt and uncle. She was visited that evening by her boyfriend, Matt Beckham, and later by her two classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik. The teens watched a movie but Brian and Torey left before the end to go to the movie theatre nearby. Cassie did not know before the boys left, Brian has unlocked the basement so the boys could re-enter the house.

Later that evening, the boys returned to the house wearing costumes with dark clothing and white masks, they made loud noises and turned off the power temporarily to attempt to lure Cassie and Matt downstairs. Cassie became uneasy at the power outage and one of the dogs at the home's uneasy behaviour, Matt asked his mother if Cassie could stay at his home but Cassie felt it was her responsibility to continue her house sitting. At 10.30 pm, Matt's mother collected him leaving Cassie at the home alone. Matt called Brian and Torey to discuss plans with them but reported they were whispering on the phone and he could barely hear them so he assumed they were in the cinema.

When Matt left the boys turned off the electricity again hoping Cassie would come down to the basement to turn it off. She did not. Eventually, bored with waiting, the boys went upstairs armed with knives. They slammed doors throughout the house to scare Cassie who was lying on the couch in the living room. The boys then attacked her, stabbing her 30 times, 12 of the wounds were potentially fatal.

Police found Brian and Torey had recorded their plans to murder Cassie on videotape while at school. Both boys were arrested and charged with murder, they both attempted to blame the other. The prosecution revealed the boys had been inspired by the Columbine High School massacre and the horror movie Scream. Both boys were found guilty and sentenced to 30-years to life sentences. They both attempted to appeal their sentences but were unsuccessful.