Chapter 9

           InMarch1970,RobertMartin,schoolpsychologistatStan-beryJuniorHigh,reported:

           OnseveraloccasionsBillcouldn’trememberwherehewas,couldn’trecallwherehisbelongingswere,andcouldnotwalkwithoutassistance.Thepupilsofhiseyeswerepinpointinsizeatthesetimes.RecentlyBillhashadfrequentaltercationswithteachersandpeerswhichresultinhisleavingclass.Duringtheseepisodesheisdepressed,criesandbecomesincommunicative.DuringoneoftheserecentepisodesBillwasobservedattemptingtostepinfrontofamovingcar.Billwastakentoaphysicianforthisbehavior.Itwasreportedthatthediagnosiswas"psychictrances."

           DuringmyevaluationBillappeareddepressed,butwellincontrolofhisbehavior.Theevaluationrevealedastrongdislikeforhisstepfatherandstrongaversiontohishomebecauseofthis.Billseeshisstepfatherasanextremelyrigid,tyrannicalindividualwithlittlefeelingforothers.ThisimpressionwasverifiedbyBill’smotherinaparentconference.ShereportedthatBill’snaturalfathercommittedsuicideandthatBill’sstepfatheroftencomparedBilltohisnaturalfather.HefrequentlystatesthatBillandhismotherwereresponsibleforthenaturalfather’ssuicide(mother’sstatement).

           JohnW.Young,principalofStanberyJuniorHigh,discoveredthatBillyMilliganfrequentlycutclassandsatonthestepsoutsidehisofficeorattherearoftheauditorium.Youngwouldalwayssitbesidetheboyandtalkwithhim.