Arizona teen sentenced in father's senseless murder

August 05, 2009

One of the crimes covered here last year was the case of a teenage boy from Mesa, Arizona, who police say murdered his father because he banned him from accessing the Internet. That case has since gone to trial and a verdict has been reached.

For those of you not familiar with the case, 15-year-old Hughstan Schlicker called 911 on Feb. 6, 2008 and allegedly confessed to the dispatcher that he had shot and killed his father, 49-year-old Theodore Schlicker III.

"I hate my dad. [I] couldn't take it anymore," he said.

Schlicker said he was angry and depressed because his dad had banned him from accessing the Internet. Schlicker explained the reason for the ban was because his father had discovered suicide notes he had posted on MySpace.com. The lack of Internet access upset Schlicker, who claimed he often spent entire days online communicating with friends.

"It felt like I was stabbed with a knife and it went straight through and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't pull out the knife," Schlicker said during an interview with police.

Schlicker told police he had initially planned on punishing his father by shooting himself in front of him but then changed his mind and decided to shoot his father first, before turning the gun on himself.

Schlicker told police two different versions of how the shooting occurred. In the first, he allegedly said he intentionally shot and killed his father. However, in the second version he said it was an accident.

"It's like I was there, I wanted, I was so mad at my dad I wanted to shoot him and I couldn't really 'cause when it came down to it he was my dad. And then the dog came by and she tapped my leg and ... if I did look over I probably wouldn't have pulled the trigger."

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After the shooting, "…the defendant first called his friend and told her what he had done. He told her he was going to kill himself but she told him not to. She convinced him to call the police and deal with the situation," reads the police report said.

When investigators arrived at the scene Schlicker was still on the phone with the 911 operator, who directed him to step outside and surrender to police. Afterwards, Schlicker's father was pronounced dead at the scene.

"I wish I could take everything back; I wish this was just a bad dream," Schlicker told police during questioning.

Schlicker's mother wasn't home at the time of the shooting.

On Feb. 14, 2008, Hughstan Schlicker was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder. Despite his age, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office opted to try him as an adult.

The case continued until May 27, 2009, when Schlicker, now 16, entered into a plea agreement with Deputy County Attorney Jeannette Gallagher and agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder, in exchange for a lesser sentence.

On July 10, Schlicker made a brief appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court, where he was given an opportunity to speak prior to his sentencing.

"I'd like to say I'm sorry and I'm scared," Schlicker told the judge. "I wish my father was still alive and I feel terrible for all this to happen. He didn't deserve this."

Schlicker also told the judge that he planned on rehabilitating himself and that he would continue his education while serving out his time in prison.

"I want to become a video game designer. So I'm going to do college courses for graphic design and I hope to get my degree," he said.

Upon listening to the teen's statement, the judge handed down a 20 year prison sentence - two years less than the maximum he faced under law.

"Domestic violence that turns deadly is tragic, and it continues to happen all too often," County Attorney Andrew Thomas said in a statement he issued after the hearing. "This sentence will help bring justice to the victims and protect our community."

Photo Credit: Police file photo

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Comments

[Joe]

He shot his father because he was banned from the internet? Maybe they should put him in a mental hospital, not a prison. He's obviously crazy.

[azrenee]

Not to make too fine an issue, but the suicide noted prompted his dad to discourage internet use, but did not encourage him to hide the gun? I hope the gun wasnt his fathers, but the son having access to other guns creates a whole different concern... The whole situation is a tragedy, too bad this child didnt get some help.

[Jane]

Very good point azrenee, very good point. Once dad realizes son is having suicidal thoughts I would hope dad would search every square inch of the house to ensure there are no easy means for him to kill himself or anyone else.

[j.stephen.h]

Jane..whenever an individual is considered a threat to themself or others, the most responsible thing to do would be to call a crisis intervention specialist to determine if he needs to be hospitalized and/or medicated. The fact he was 15 and spending "days online with friends" should have been the first clue. WHile many might say "oh well thats not all too uncommon for kids these days"...does that make it any healthier mentally? To isolate oneself in a subsocial environment? I imagine this young man had a difficult time with face-to-face communication and positive self expression, so he felt more secure/confident doing things online. His type would also most likely indulge in violent videogames of the shooting variety...and he probably fantasized about the act long before he actually committed it.

[Nikki]

No, video games had no contribution to this case. The boy was suicidal and was feeling anger towards his father. His depression was deep and he found friendship and compassion through the online relationships he made.

Spending days online does not necessarily mean that he has issues making friends outside. Online relationships and communities are unique as you can become part of a group of people and create unique bonds with people who genuinely care about you. I did the same when I was young, I would spend tons of time online. At school I had plenty of friends, but I loved to come home and communicate with my online friends, too.

He killed his father out of spite, his father took the one thing that made him feel worthy of life. Instead of just killing himself, he decided to take his father's life as well.

[sad]

Why would the kid's dad punish him for depression? Sounds like the dad was a jerk. Too bad the mom didn't separate the two.

[Anthony]

Maybe if young now a day kids were encouraged to interacted in the real world, people, friends, family as oppose to their lazy parents neglecting them and letting them play hour after hour of mindless, mind degrading and influential on line games, allowing unlimited internet access this wouldn’t happen. Blame the lazy and inattentive parents. This didn’t happen 20 years ago. It’s the PARENTS FAULT moniter your kids

[vickib]

I just cant believe it

[j.s.h.]

It's just as possible the kid used the internet to establish relationships with other angry, isolated types to indulgence in revenge motivated fantasies.

His father intercepted a suicide note on myspace, and took away computer time, why he didnt call someone about it is beyond my line of questioning, but as i mentioned some months ago it might have made a difference.

Fantasy often precedes the act. (a credo favored) This Stands out here, and its logical to consider that an individual harboring anger, resentment, and feelings of rejection will naturally seek out (consciously or unconsciously) other types which parallel them.(in effect sharing similar attitudes and feelings)

Its not bad to have casual social support systems on the internet, but entire days spent in the obscurity of cold chatrooms and various other networking sites ...well that borders on an avoidant personality. (regardless of whether they choose to be or not)

His picture depicts this sad kid with a 1,000 yard stare, trying to harness an odd combination of emotions he can barely control. I'm curious as to if the suicide note just mentions a desire to kill himself, or is it a murder-suicide note? The father in either (and all) respects should have Contacted crisis intervention or someone and tried to reach out.

[joseph]

wow wat really confused me is dat after doing this he call the police and tell them that he did it that wat confused me