-Caveat Lector- Man deliberately plows car into California playground, killing 2 children Copyright � 1999 Nando Media Copyright � 1999 Associated Press By DEBORAH HASTINGS COSTA MESA, Calif. (May 5, 1999 8:51 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A man who drove his car into a crowded playground - killing two preschoolers and injuring five other people - told police he did so on purpose. "I was going to execute these children because they were innocent," Steven Allen Abrams told police, according to Lt. Ron Smith. Witnesses told police that Abrams sped up Monday as he reached the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center schoolyard at 35 to 40 mph, crashing through a fence and terrifying more than 40 children. "Why he picked yesterday, why he picked this school, why he picked these kids, we don't know," Smith said Tuesday. Four-year-old Sierra Soto and 3-year-old Brandon Wiener died under his 1967 Cadillac. Nicholas McHardy, 2, and Victoria Sherman, 5, were in critical condition. Teacher's aide Danielle Knecht was treated for a broken leg at University of California, Irvine Medical Center and released, said nurse Chong Lee. Two other injured toddlers were treated and released. Abrams didn't know the children or anyone at the school, Smith said. "In his mind, he associated the school with the neighborhood he used to live in," Smith said. Five years ago, Abrams was arrested for stalking his girlfriend. They had lived near the preschool in the upper-middle-class neighborhood outside Los Angeles. Abrams worked at a concert ticket agency that was owned by his brother-in- law. Forty-five minutes before the killings, Abrams rammed a car that cut him off on the nearby Costa Mesa Freeway, Smith said. After plowing into the playground, Abrams calmly sat behind the wheel until police arrested him. Angry neighbors, parents and workers from a nearby church jeered as he was led away. "Yesterday I just kept saying it was an accident, it was an accident. But it wasn't and that makes it even worse," said resident Karen McFarland. Abrams, 39, faces two counts of murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon at his arraignment Wednesday, Smith said. Abrams was being held without bail. His 19-year-old daughter, Stephanie, expressed disbelief. "I believe it wasn't my dad that did it. I believe he wasn't mentally sane when he did it," Stephanie Abrams said. She said he worked six days a week, cooked dinner for her and was "almost the perfect father." Neighbors sobbed Tuesday as they knelt in prayer at the schoolyard. A makeshift shrine sprouted along the fence with bouquets, balloons, stuffed animals and cards. A cross erected in the playground read, "Dear God, please protect our children." The school was closed Tuesday and will remain so indefinitely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steve Wingate California Director SKYWATCH INTERNATIONAL ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
