Tacoma police: Son turns himself in, admits to killing father
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TACOMA, Wash. -- A beloved teacher was murdered and a suspect was arrested, and now police say the man who confessed to the killing is the victim's own son.
Police say Jonathan Meline calmly walked into Pierce County jail early Thursday morning and confessed to killing his father, Rob Meline.
The murder has shocked the community and left a school trying to cope with the loss of a beloved teacher.
The motive for the killing is so far unknown, but what is known is that Jonathan Meline suffers from severe mental illness and has been in and out of Western State Hospital.
"Jonathan has a history of schizophrenia and it has escalated in his behavior over the past 10 years or so," said Kerry Morrison, the victim's sister in law.
Police say Rob Meline died of what is called blunt force trauma, meaning he was beaten to death in some fashion.
"Rob was very loved. A devoted family man and an amazing teacher and it's just a huge loss to the community," Morrison said.
In the past, Jonathan Meline had been arrested for car theft, but was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial. Morrison said he had been in and out of Western State Hospital over the years.
"The hope always would be that that's where he would stay on a permanent basis, and because of funding in the state has been released on a number of occasions," she said.
Neighbors say Jonathan was a little different, but they did not think he was violent.
"He seemed like an interesting guy. He used to sing songs and talk to God and stuff. He didn't seem like he'd hurt anyone," said neighbor Cameron Afzal.
As for Rob Meline, he was a much loved, much respected teacher at Camas Prairie Elementary School in the Bethel School District.
"Obviously, it's a huge loss for the community and I'm very sad for everyone involved," said neighbor Donny Vegas.
One of Jonathan's sisters went with him to turn himself in. The siblings walked to the jail, which police can't figure out because it's two and a half miles away.
A lot of people with schizophrenia are set off by a variety of things, especially while they're not on their meds, so perhaps the reason they walked to the police station had something to do with that. Maybe being inside of a car would set him off, or not having the control as a passenger. Walking might have kept him calm and it gave her more time to talk him through it maybe. Or maybe she didn't even drive? or have a car? Lots of possibilities. This article  was kind of hard to read with the way it was written.
"The siblings walked to the jail, which police can't figure out because it's two and a half miles away."  People walk that far ALL. THE. TIME. I walked 4 miles last night just because I was bored and wanted the fresh air.
"One of Jonathan's sisters went with him to turn himself in. The siblings walked to the jail, which police can't figure out because it's two and a half miles away." Â (from the story)
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I don't know about these particular 2 people, but many people find that walking is very calming and relaxing... and 2 people walking have time together that is uninterrupted by distractions like the telephone, TV, other people, and so on. Â
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Just speculating here, but it sounds as though Jonathan's sister might possibly have had some influence on his decision to turn himself in (eg: perhaps they were especially close)... and perhaps this walk was her way of being able to show continued support and comfort to him. Â Â She would also be able to be there when he spoke with the police, to make sure they received correct and accurate information.
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Very sad situation on all levels...Â
I am so sad ,that another life is taken like this. The mental illness is a horrible illness. I was mental health nurse for many years,and I saw alot. I do know that not even courted orders for meds were not always followed,especially,if their were not checked up on. Lot,of these people,do not like the way the meds make them feel,and go off it as soon as they leave the hospital. The Psych Hospital,that I worked at was a short term locked facility.My thoughts and prayers are with the family.As far,as the police wondering why they walked 2.5 miles. I walk,a lot everyday,and I probably walk that much,if not more.
 @Jennifer Hamlet ~  Um-hmm... my sister is an RN - a psychiatric nurse... and she has told stories about her work experiences and her frustration, because they would have patients being released that the Drs and nurses knew would not stay on their meds once they left the facility...and often, the patient didn't have family or other caregivers to help them "stay on track"... With some of them, it was like a revolving door...  She said many of these patients should never have been released, but then there would be budget cuts, which led to staffing and patient-space cuts, and so on... so they just didn't have any choice.
Schizophrenia is a horrible affliction all the way around. I feel horrible for the people who suffer from it and for the people who love them as well. When medicated these people can usually function fairly well. The problem is that they often go off their meds when they are not in a regulated environment and then things like this happen. My sympathy and prayers to all to have been affected by this tragedy.Â
"The siblings walked to the jail, which police can't figure out because it's two and a half miles away."
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They make it sound like walking 2.5 miles is some super human feat. Maybe that's one of the reasons we have so many large people.
My son has severe schizophrenia and my wife and I would sleep with the door locked and a chair in front of it and my gun was never far from either of us (well hidden though so he couldn't find it). He could go into violent rages for no reason at all.
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When he decided to leave home and go live in the streets it was bitter sweet. We missed him because he was ver sick but were also glad because we no longer lived in fear.
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Now he is on court ordered meds and doing well. The court has indicated that they will be requiring this way beyond the 6 month initial commitment.
 @RalphCramden How wonderful to hear this bit of better news!  I've often thought of your situation, and although I don't think you'd mentioned the fear, I know you've had a rough time handling holidays and other times through the years, since I first met you online.  I hope this is the beginning of some more normal and acceptable visiting with him!
 @SilverGuardianÂ
We have come to accept that our relationship will never be "normal" and we have to accept the relationship that we have at the moment. Hopefully it will remain where it is not but we have learned that it more than likely won't.
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When he lived with us he would smash red paint on the basement walls and tell his cousins that is what [we] would look like once he got through with us. Of course our nephews told us of his conversations which lead to locking our doors and making sure we had our guns close. He is big and strong and could easily overcome my wife and would be a real fight with me. There isn't anything that compares to being prepared to kill your son if he went off the deep end. We were realistic that it could happen and were as prepared for that as we could.
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It really has been a wild ride with him. But ya know, it is what it is and there is nothing we can do to change it.
Why would the police wonder why the suspect and his sister walked 2.5 miles to the jail? It's a little misleading until you watch the video, and find out it was after 4 in the morning that they were walking. And it could be that the sister was giving what love and support she could to her mentally ill brother. After all, they are still family.
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I'm  hoping that Jonathan can actually get the correct treatment and sentence to this crime. It sounds like the system failed him before. It's not Jonathan's fault that he has schizophrenia.Â
"The siblings walked to the jail, which police can't figure out because it's two and a half miles away." Well maybe...just maybe they knew they would not ever have that opportunity to walk like that together EVER again.
Love the last comment..."Walk tot he jail...police can't figure out..." Â What? Â Oh, he is mentally ill and cannot walk 2 miles? Â He should Drive? Â This is an awful tragedy. Â In my little church we had two visiting missionaries come, and in one month their son (also mentally ill) killed his father and almost killed his mother. Â We do need facilities that can keep the severe mentally ill cases. Â This need not have happened.
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schizophrenia is a horrible sickness. He should have been kept in the hospitals for good. But no our wonderful gov't loves to take away programs that actually need to be around. Sad all around.
 @LostSoul It is not the governments responsibility to provide care for the life of someone that suffers from a mental illness.Â
 @HarryReams  @LostSoul No?  In my opinion, government money is partly my money.  And I would prefer to pay a little for insurance that people who are dangerously ill are for the most part kept locked away ... just as that is why I approve of prisons.  The point is to make life safe for the rest of the world.  If being in a "home" means that someone like this young man is able to actually walk around and be semi productive, all the better.  If not, at least the world is safer.
@HarryReams @LostSoul Most familys can't afford the high cost..Whats the answer..?Put them on the street to harm others.
 @HarryReams  @LostSoul  If the money spent keeping those who have been given a death sentence alive, was used for the treatment of the severely mentally ill, it would be much better spent. Â
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As for the governments responsibility to care for them, when they are a danger to others, it most definitely the governments responsibility to provide care that protects the public from harm.
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Had proper care been given, a family and community would not be suffering right now.