Episode 382: Dark Knight Rises Massacre - Neuroscience Student Says Killing People Will Cure His Depression

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The entire courtroom is quiet as each person walks up to the front and points. They point at this tiny miniature model of a movie theater sitting on the table. 

The tiny blue miniature model seats are positioned just like they were when it all happened. 

3 years ago - the emergency exit door to theater 9 would open. A man with bright orange hair wearing tactical gear would walk into the theater - and open fire. 

At the midnight premier of Batman The Dark Knight Rises. 

He is now sitting in the courtroom charged with 24 counts of murder, 140 counts attempted murder, and 1 count for illegal explosives. 

But there are still so many questions - he told his psychiatrist months prior that he wanted to kill people. Why wasn’t he put on a psychiatric hold? Why did he write a notebook filled with his plans to mail to her? Why did he, a neuroscience major, hate humanity so much to believe in something as vile as “human capital?” The idea that taking a life increases the value of your own. 

Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com

Sources

Book - ‘A Dark Night in Aurora: Inside James Holmes and the Colorado Mass Shootings’ by Dr. William H. Reid

Public court documents 

Public court footage

James Holmes’s Diary Annotated by Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2091448-james-holmes-notebook-annotated-by-dr-jeffrey#document/p14/a221174 

James Holmes’s Diary PDF https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2091448/james-holmes-notebook-annotated-by-dr-jeffrey.pdf 

Survivor’s footage from that evening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7sIiqq66rk 

Aurora Police Officer Bryan Butler

9NEWS https://youtu.be/7oAABzR2u88?si=BOz_axKtGvF5wEEn 

Arresting Officer Jason Oviatt

9NEWS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVOZnlCI2xE&pp=ygUMamFtZXMgaG9sbWVz 

https://www.colorado.edu/initiative/newscorps/2015/05/21/aurora-theater-shooting-trial-includes-autopsy-pictures-chilling-911-call

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-parents-20150504-story.html

https://www.newsweek.com/james-holmes-verdict-354496

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAPkg3lbtSs 

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/20/aurora-theater-shooting-trauma-rooms-scrambled-to-save-lives/

https://nypost.com/2022/08/27/james-holmes-therapist-lynne-fenton-reveals-creepy-sessions/ 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dr-lynne-fenton-psychiatrist-aurora-shooting-disciplined_n_1723287

https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/27/us/colorado-theater-shooting-psychiatrist/index.html

https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/55528/deep-dark-past-dr-lynne-fenton/page/0/1?reg=1

https://www.westword.com/news/lynne-fenton-james-holmess-doctor-her-ex-husband-on-minor-discipline-made-to-look-major-5889178

https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/11/us/james-holmes-aurora-colorado-movie-theater-shooting-trial/index.html

https://people.com/crime/aurora-shooting-survivor-responding-officer-fell-in-love/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2372224/Aurora-survivors-wedding-anniversary-movie-theater-shooting-reclaims-date.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/aurora-theater-shooting-survivors-tie-knot-year/story?id=19728681 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/jun/11/theater-shooters-ex-i-didnt-see-future-him/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f4458f48-787f-4159-9d1b-5ae212e108b8

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/aurora_shooting 

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/20/theater-shooting-suspect-a-quiet-man-who-authorities-say-harbored-a-deadly-plan/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/photos-james-holmes-camp-counselor-underprivileged-kids-flna901237

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/james-holmes-sister-wrote-song-about-death-row-before-shootings/

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/theater-shooters-sister-recalls-a-kind-older-brother//?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shareArticleButton&utm_campaign=shareArticleButton 

https://www.denverpost.com/2015/07/27/aurora-theater-shooters-sister-recalls-kind-brother/

https://apnews.com/general-news-15bfc3bdcc544bcbbe60676fc42515d0

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_man 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/details-emerge-about-jury-picked-for-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-192409225.html

https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/13/us/gallery/long-jury-selection/index.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/young-thug-ysl-trial-jury-1234868136/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/01/james-holmes-prosecutors-death-penalty

https://abcnews.go.com/US/death-penalty-james-holmes-applauded-dead/story?id=18853895

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Colorado

https://deadspin.com/why-jessica-ghawi-wrote-under-the-name-redfield-moving-5927782/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/07/15/jessica-redfield-ghawi-sports-journalist-aurora-colorado-shooting/2519189/# 

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/bulverde-man-wounded-in-colorado-shooting-is-home-3741361.php

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/jessica-ghawi-victim-of-colorado-theatre-shooting-was-also-at-eaton-centre-shooting/article_76dfad7f-7d16-50b7-8d0b-95d9d2e95c12.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Duchene

https://momsdemandaction.org/sandy-phillips-fights-for-stronger-smarter-gun-laws-in-the-aftermath-of-the-murder-of-her-daughter-in-the-aurora-mass-shooting/

https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/theater-shooting-victims-mother-a-voice-for-daughter-in-courtroom/

https://www.deseret.com/2012/7/22/20425429/mother-wounded-son-watched-as-friend-died-in-colo/

https://www.enidnews.com/archives/a-look-at-the-lives-of-colorado-shooting-victims/article_f4a420b7-7395-5401-ab5b-d794ab616fef.html

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/27/1000-attend-funeral-of-aj-boik-killed-in-aurora-theater-shootings/

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/10-years-ale-yes-for-a-j-boik/

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE86L02A/

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/us/recalling-lives-of-colorado-shooting-victims.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110421991/jesse_evan-childress

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/palmdale-resident-jesse-childress-aurora-dark-knight/1929306/

https://www.foxnews.com/video/1748385927001

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/air-force-colleagues-mourn-loss-of-jesse-childress/

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/theater-shooting-victims-daughter-recalls-his-loving-antics/

https://www.westword.com/news/aurora-theater-shooting-joke-in-front-of-weston-cowden-victims-son-gets-ny-prof-suspended-5896331

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/gordon-cowden-8214524

https://gazette.com/news/live-coverage-theater-shooting-victims-daughter-recalls-his-loving-antics/article_6ed0b596-0a77-565d-af69-8bd07e24fdff.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2179088/Colorado-Batman-shooting-James-Holmes-eldest-victim-Gordon-Cowdens-memorial-service.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/aurora-shooting-survivor-recalls-terror-eve-anniversary/story?id=19712921&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3uVzkMxCgTKsZF-Y5gxHczO7lDei85T3Tqc6OdNsniJ8I9NM95zj-Rqdw_aem_veyrKPhiB2W5e_vBzr95NQ#.UemyaO8FsBI.twitter

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/shooting-victim-john-larimer-illinois-sailor-was-youngest-of-five-children/

https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/25/opinion/bennett-aurora-three/index.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ycDVJoNhMGlf7pGYa2fiq8uvmb0kFEaH_yjg7c7ctGPOmhGkn4MRExlA_aem_v32yVNSuNZW_YKrbGjDNuw

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069906520146

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/matt-mcquinn-27-died-protecting-girlfriend-in-aurora-theater-shooting/

https://nypost.com/2012/07/28/colorado-victims-matt-mcquinn-and-jessica-ghawi-mourned-at-funerals/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/mother-local-native-killed-movie-honors-son-heroic-spirit/XVmqrTCxb737jlWM9co3II/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1PbMhlE0YqGv7NHE5tK4NGtBgeivyZZMXGjK06R4Y6rXHhKT69L3PPL0g_aem_MMNgr7n-eRAszuX2XKCBog

https://www.newcomerdenver.com/obituary/59402

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/07/26/157451977/picking-up-the-pieces-family-remembers-shooting-victim-micayla-medek

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/26/micayla-medek-funeral-about-joyful-spirit-of-sandwich-artist/

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/shooting-victim-remembered-for-joy/

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/us/loved-ones-recount-their-pain-at-hearing-for-aurora-gunman.html

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/hinckley-grad-micayla-medek-was-just-trying-to-get-life-together/

https://www.fox6now.com/news/another-colorado-shooting-victim-with-wisconsin-ties

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/double-tragedy-aurora-shooting-victim-learns-her-daughter-was-killed-flna903351

https://abcnews.go.com/US/aurora-shooting-trial-pregnant-woman-recalls-husbands-bleeding/story?id=30645851

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/theater-shooting-victims-mom-grief-is-agonizing-pain/

https://www.denverpost.com/2015/06/18/dont-whitewash-the-aurora-theater-shootings-saddest-story/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-movie-theater-shooting-victim-recalls-daughter-alive/story?id=31906385

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/club-q-shooting/mass-shooting-survivors-say-grieving-healing-process-long-term-needs/73-157be349-b889-4ee5-9686-964eeb1f4095 

https://www.freep.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/22/aurora-theater-shooting/22158161/

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-gruesome-evidence-20150601-story.html

https://www.colorado.edu/initiative/newscorps/2015/05/20/prosecution-tests-jurors-patience-remains-schedule

https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/22/us/colorado-shooting-survivors/index.html

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/jon-blunk-26-tried-to-protect-his-girlfriend-2/

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/alex-sullivan-remembered-for-the-many-friends-he-loved/

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/alex-teves-one-of-the-best-men-i-ever-knew-friend-says/

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/24/aurora-shooting-victim-rebecca-wingo-fearless-lived-life-with-abandon/

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/veronica-moser-6-victim-of-theater-shooting/

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/21/aurora-theater-shooting-father-of-victim-rebecca-wingo-is-inconsolable/

https://sentinelcolorado.com/obituaries/massacre-victim-rebecca-wingo-never-knew-a-stranger/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178414/Colorado-massacre-Daughters-victim-Rebecca-Wingo-struggle-news-mothers-death.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/lost-first-love-batman-killer-27545710

https://www.thetrace.org/2015/12/children-of-mass-shootings-aurora/

https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1c7vg4m/pics_from_correspondences_sent_to_james_holmes/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/us/two-years-after-aurora-theater-rampage-james-holmes-braces-for-trial-.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer

https://www.today.com/parents/parents/aurora-theater-shooting-alex-sullivan-dad-rcna39427

https://www.5280.com/running-for-alex-how-tom-sullivan-turned-tragedy-into-a-political-crusade/

https://www.newtownbee.com/09182015/an-aurora-fathers-story-the-bonds-of-tragedy-connect-communities-of-survi/

https://www.5280.com/10-years-after-his-son-was-murdered-in-the-aurora-theater-massacre-tom-sullivans-work-is-still-not-finished/

https://www.nbc26.com/news/national/democracy-2018/tom-sullivan-aurora-theater-shooting-state-house-wins

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/im-the-parent-of-a-murdered-child-thats-who-i-am-father-remembers-aurora-theater-shooting-10-years-later/

https://x.com/kurtisalee/status/226321593222180865 

https://momentsthatsurvive.org/tribute/colorado-state-representative-tom-sullivan-hd-37/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2176810/Dark-Knight-Rises-Colorado-Shooting-Last-tweet-Alex-Sullivan-died-going-premiere-birthday.html 

https://www.today.com/news/aurora-shooting-victim-surprised-beautiful-marriage-proposal-shine-light-darkness-2d80174445

https://abc7.com/aurora-shooting-dark-knight-rises-movie-theater-shootings/367594/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/colorado-shooting-survivor-he-pointed-gun-right-me-flna898600

https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/19/family-identifies-27-year-old-victim-of-aurora-theater-shooting/

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/02/us/full-toll-from-aurora-theater-shooting-goes-untold-at-trial.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/quadriplegic-theater-shooting-survivor-loves-to-work-hard/

https://www.denverpost.com/2015/05/01/12-aurora-theater-shooting-survivors-testify-during-the-trials-first-week/ 

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-james-holmes-parents-20150504-story.html 

https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/reddit-aurora-shooter-aff/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/01/18/us/20130119_aurora.html?smid=url-share 

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/us/at-james-homes-colorado-theater-shooting-trial-ex-girlfriend-recalls-unnerving-comments.html

YT video of real radio transmissions by Aurora Police: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G2OxLaPauA 

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-aurora-shooting-rumor

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/02/us/full-toll-from-aurora-theater-shooting-goes-untold-at-trial.html 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/08/opinion/sunday/aurora-movie-theater-shooting-colorado.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/powerful-photos-released-from-aurora-theater-shooting/27/ 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/back-aurora-colorado-movie-theater-shooting-years/story?id=48730066 

https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/tragedy-in-colorado-idJPRTR354EE/

https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/aurora-shooting-looking-back-idJPRTR3C6K0/

https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/flashback-aurora-movie-massacre-idINRTX1KLGX/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/robert-holmes-james-holmes-father-arrives-colorado_n_1690807

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeMemorials/comments/s8n6zv/jonathan_blunk_aurora_theatre_should_have_turned/

https://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f237/crime-scene-pictures-aurora-batman-movie-shooting-158829/

https://www.mediaite.com/online/washington-times-editor-posts-traffic-cam-video-of-aurora-shooter-james-holmes-on-his-traffic-blog/

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/20/us/The-Shooting-in-Aurora.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/gallery/james-holmes-booby-trapped-home-6420493

https://www.cpr.org/2015/08/03/jury-declines-to-rule-out-death-penalty-for-james-holmes/

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-colorado-theater-shooting-pictures-photogallery.html

Production Note:

Rotten Mango has not done original reporting on this case. The stories are based on existing material (listed in show notes).

The RM team works hard to make sure everything you’re listening to is as accurate as possible and we try to use multiple sources to verify the facts. Creative liberties may be taken in certain cases during the presentation of the case. Please email us at rottenmangop@gmail.com if you have any questions!