Did Fear of Obama's Re-Election Spur a Murder-Suicide?

A wife and two kids are the victim of a husband with a history of depression and political paranoia

A Virginia man took not only his own life, but the life of his wife and two teen sons last week in a vicious murder-suicide in the DC suburb of Herndon, reports Raw Story.

His motive? Partly to do with fear over the prospect of Obama's re-election, according to a friend of the family. Though police have yet no official motive for the shootings last Tuesday perpetrated by Albert Peterson, a defense contractor with an apparent history of paranoia, they acknowledge the man had "strong political opinions."

A woman close to the family identified as "Maggie" told the Daily Mail that Petersen believed his "God-given rights were being taken away," and that he was saddened by the direction the country was headed. At work, according to Maggie, Petersen felt he was under pressure to vote for Obama or face losing his job.

"He couldn't understand how the government could be so irresponsible," said Maggie, "and he thought it would be on the backs of his boys."

The community's reaction to the tragedy, however, has been focused on its true victims: Petersen's wife, Kathleen, and his two boys, Matthew and Christopher:

"Those boys were raised by one of the best Moms. She is already missed."

Via Raw Story and the Daily Mail.

Could politics alone lead to this kind of behavior, or was Petersen obviously mentally ill?

[CanisCanemEdit]

Sounds like there is much, much more to this story. Doubtful the possible re-election of a poor performing president would push someone over the edge like this.

[Rightwing]

I can not believe politix have went fox news on us !

[CanisCanemEdit]

@Rightwing - Turning this tragedy into some form of political debate is a serious low.

[Registre56]

@Rightwing your soo right!!!!

[Sonny]

No, not really, candi. This was an ultra extreme move. But there are many on the fringe far right who may be just as crazy as this guy is...

[CanisCanemEdit]

@Sonny - No doubt.

But there are many on the fringe far left who are equally crazy.

There are many human beings who need mental help.

Interestingly, no where in the story does anyone mention the shooter being mentally ill. Simply saddened.

I stand by my first statement.

[dances-weebles]

wtf?

[marine1]

NO IDEA??????????

[truthsayer]

Yeah wtf ?

[Cheenoguy]

I hope that people recognize who the accomplices are in this crime. Romney , Ryan, Limbaugh, Chuck Norris, Fox "news" and right wing "Christians" have inspired this ridiculous fear for politically and monetary gain. I hope they all feel guilty for the consequences of their actions.

[CanisCanemEdit]

Shame on you. That's disgusting.

[910disaster]

@CanisCanemEdit
Its true. This is the direct result of fear mongering.

[CanisCanemEdit]

@910disaster - It's still only speculation based on the comments of someone named Maggie who claims to be a family friend.

A real friend of the family wouldn't make such rash comments over the barely cool bodies of the victims.

Disgusting supposition.

[2ndcharm]

Only a true douche bag would turn a tragedy such as this into a political attack.

[Creole]

I agree with this.

[Keyjo]

I'd have to say that a father with a good career who would kill his wife and own sons is obviously mentally ill. And I hope that no one tries to make this a political issue. It's sad, it's tragic, it's vile.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Whoa! We actually agree on something. Maybe there is hope for you.

[Keyjo]

@Neo_NtheMatrix
Riiiiiight!

[Jeff_Woehrle]

It would be tragic for America should this failed president manage to get another term. However, I expect that this gentleman had far more serious issues to deal with.

[PuroChorizo361]

It'll be worse if ppl elect a religious liar!

[Jeff_Woehrle]

@PuroChorizo361 You can speculate all you want about other candidates for the office, but the current president has a demonstrated record of failure in this job. Dismal.

[PuroChorizo361]

@Jeff_Woehrle is this speculation? http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[PuroChorizo361]

@Jeff_Woehrle how about this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[PuroChorizo361]

@Jeff_Woehrle Lol I think this one is for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[tomincali]

must have been declared terrorists by this addministration

[Sonny]

No..but I personally do declare this guy a first rate right wing nut!

[DARSB]

A man who kills his family is obviously mentally ill.

[bobrob]

Regardless of his motives, he should be put to death. No life sentence.

[Denizen_Kate]

bobrob, he is dead. Try again. Reading comprehension skills are beyond price.

[bobrob]

@Denizen_Kate Very cute. English was not one of my best subjects
while at Harvard.

[Sonny]

See...haven't I been telling all here that the extreme right wing is composed o many people with some serious mental health problems?!? Now you have the proof that I have been right all along... Many of these people make up the ranks of the so-called "tea party". And they are (and have been) an major problem for the repub. party---Due to their extremist and bizarre approach to politics and public policy....My advice to some on this site is to NOT try to blame Pres. Obama for this nut job who committed these horrific acts...but to take steps to distance them selves from this "fringe" element of their political party------as soon as possible.

[Lpguy]

He is mentally ill, because IF politics lead to this it would mean he is mentally ill anyway. fear mongering, from both the left and the right in this country, has about as much to do with this guys murder suicide as music or video games lead to similar teen tragedies. Its just something to blame it all on instead of taking responsibility for your role as a member of society that keeps pushing the status quo, reelecting the same crooks, growing more irrespobsible, feeling more entitled, becoming easily offended, and pushing for "political correctness" in everything. A question like this is going to divide people into blaming stupid obama for wrecking the country - or blaming the right wing for wrecking the country. But its so obvious they both do the same basic things when in office - print miney, go to war, bailout corporations, and undermine our liberties and privacy. All you are voting on is whether you elect a guy who gets to appoint pro life or pro choice supreme court justices.

[QuiQui88]

Killed his family?? Only in the white neighborhoods

[TeamAmerica]

So what would the stereotype be in the black neighborhood? That he had to kill several women because he had kids to all of them? Troll.

[ibcingu]

Really? I seem to remember that Jennifer Hudson's family was all murdered by a former family member.

[QuiQui88]

@ibcingu
sure he killed them, but tht was certainly NOT his blood.

[QuiQui88]

@TeamAmerica
sounds like the man who cheated on his wife with a much younger woman..

[Sonny]

@QuiQui88 Wow!...talk about making up your own set of "facts"? Where did THAT nonsense come from?

[Stratton]

The Daily Mail article says he had a history of mental illness.

[katniss641]

When you are mentally ill anything could probably set you off. I and a lot of others are depressed to think Obama might get re-elected but I don't think that would completely spur a murder-suicide.

[TeamAmerica]

Kill Bush? How soon we forget our own trespasses.

[ibcingu]

Unfortunately, you can't legislate mental illness. It's just to bad that this guy took his innocent wife & kids with him.

[mimi57]

"Normal" people don't kill their own families...he was obviously very depressed
and possibly psychotic. How sad.

[MrGrey]

Mentally I'll....there's a big difference between vehemently disagreeing with someone's politics and killing your family and committing suicide

[bsking]

obviously this was just another bump in the road.....

[ST_Louie_Sue]

Amen

[NormalFlora]

I feel bad for the loss of his wife and kids, but as far as this anti-Obama loony guy it was just Darwin at work cleaning up the gene pool.

[KyleMFb]

I look at it as one less idiot in America
We should blame fox news for theses deaths