The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
It all started late last year.
A Landstown High School senior began trying to recruit another student in a plot to bomb the school. The boy refused.
That is the account given by the boy's girlfriend, 13-year-old Ashley Martens.
He "had told him no, he wasn't going to help him with it," she said. "He wouldn't hurt anybody. He's just too nice to do that."
But then the boy, who is 15, started getting threatening messages from the older teen, and he got scared, said Ashley's father, Michael Martens.
The boy decided nearly three weeks ago to report the 17-year-old senior's plans, Michael Martens said.
But now the finger's been pointed back at him, and he's accused of participating in the alleged plot. Police arrested the 15-year-old and a 16-year-old Landstown sophomore last week. The senior had already been charged.
Officials haven't said whether one of the arrested teens had reported the alleged plot, because informants' identities are never released, said Officer Margie Long, a police spokeswoman. They also wouldn't say whether the tipster merely knew about the alleged plot or planned to participate and got cold feet.
Either way, the Martenses say the 15-year-old deserves some credit.
"God knows how many senseless injuries he's stopped by doing this," said Michael Martens, 46. "He was the one that actually stopped it all from actually going down."
Landstown parents and students have echoed that sentiment.
He "was the hero," said Rachel Nohe, a Landstown senior. "He really saved lives.... If he hadn't said anything, it would have run like they planned it. I don't think anyone would have expected anything."
Police received the tip April 5 and searched the 17-year-old senior's house the next day. They found 28 pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails and other explosives. They charged him with 10 counts of manufacturing and possessing an explosive device and one count of manufacturing an explosive device for use in a terrorist act.
After more searches, police charged the 15-year-old - Ashley Martens' boyfriend - and a 16-year-old last week with possession and use of a sawed-off shotgun and manufacture and possession of multiple explosive devices for use in a terrorist act.
The charges carry potential life sentences, said Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant.
If one of the boys was the informant, that could help him in court. Generally, Bryant said, "people who cooperate are often prosecuted and often given credit for that cooperation at sentencing, if they are convicted."
The three teens have a hearing Tuesday. Because they are juveniles, their identities are not being released.
Bryant has filed a motion to try the 17-year-old as a adult. He turns 18 this summer and is known to have a fascination with the April 20, 1999, shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., where two students killed 12 others and a teacher, the prosecutor said.
Ashley Martens didn't know her boyfriend when all this started. They first met online, then in person, in early March, she said.
"It was my suggestion," said her father. Ashley has osteosarcoma, a malignant bone cancer, he said. "Having cancer and losing all her hair, she was sheepish about meeting boys."
The 15-year-old told her about the plot and the threatening messages late last month, Ashley said. He told her and her father that he has bipolar disorder and takes medication, Michael Martens said.
Martens said he keeps in contact with the boy's attorney and his mother. The attorney did not return a phone call Friday, and the mother, according to Martens, is not ready to speak with the media about her son.
Martens said the boy's character doesn't jibe with the portrait of a disturbed or violence-prone teen.
"He was your typical, clean-cut teenage boy," Martens said. "He's very polite, very well-mannered, very respectful."
When Ashley lost all her hair during chemotherapy, the boy "shaved his head to look like her," Martens said.
"This boy is like a son to me, that's how close I've become to him with everything my daughter's going through.
"... He's part of the things that keeps her going and fighting."
Pilot writer Lauren Roth contributed to this report.
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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landsown
Does mommy and daddy have money because this lawyer talk to bring reasonable doubt to the suspect.
Why Are They Revealing A Little 13 Year Old Girl's Name?
They need to reveal the 15-17 year old students' names who planned the atack on Landstown High School in the Virginian Pilot instead!
"Sources"?
How credible a source can the 13-YEAR OLD girlfriend of the accused be? The other "source" (girlfriends' father) stated that the boy "is your typical, clean-cut teenage boy" and that his character "doesn't jibe" with the portrait of a disturbed or violence-prone teen. Exactly what the family and friends of the "Craigslist" killer in the northeast are saying.
I agree the information
I agree the information about thwarting the attack was important. Reporting the young girl's name was irresponsible. I can imagine she will face retaliation by the friends of the accused. What was the father thinking? Perhaps he wanted to be in the limelight or deemed some sort of hero by the press-coverage. Whatever his reasoning, he has put his family in probable danger.
My opinion
Make an example of the boy that thwarted this terroism!Don't let him go to jail-throw him a parade, give him a $reward, or something else spectacular to a teen. This might just encourage others to tell before it's too late! You can tell a bully in K or 1st grade from then on bully's should be dealt with by the adults there. Once parents are made aware, if the parents won't deal with their bullying child expel them. PERIOD! Video Baby! You do it for traffic, children are far more important. Say what you will but how does a child hide "28 pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails & other explosives"??? Our children couldn't hide a magazine from us in our home.
Where do these children get explosives
sawed-off shotguns, pistols, assault weapons and other high grade weaponry?
Who got it for them? They certainly (I hope) did not go to Sports Authority for this stuff.
I remember growing up in NY and I couldn't even get a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches or so unless my Dad gave it to me.
Media Must Stop!
vbeach--I totally agree with you.
The Pilot and other local media MUST stop sensationalizing this story and focus on positive news. Does anyone know the positive things that are going on at this school? That would probably be a NO because that doesn't make money for the media.
I say to the Pilot and other media--leave this school alone so the kids can learn and the teachers can teach!
Let's Slow Down
As a school mentor, I know too many parents expect the school to rear their children. But kids act w/o parent approval. Throwing blame around is reminiscent of the Middle Ages: bring back the gallows! At 13 I shoplifted a $1 ball. My mother didn’t call the police; she escorted me back to the store to face the manager, then her and dad that night. I got the message.
OK, the boyfriend – who thwarted a tragedy - didn’t turn him in immediately. Of course, you ran to the principal, police or parents any time you knew someone was having a party when parents were gone. The bigger the crime, the more kids fear trusting adults. What drove the senior to this level of desperation and probable suicide: bullying, mental illness? Don’t ignore the crime, but don’t ignore the person, either. This isn’t a normal response to teenage frustration. There’s more going on here. Find it, or someone else will eventually take his place.
Agreed on all counts
All these comments hit the nail on the head. They only way we can stop the violence our children have become involved in is to pay attention and make them responsible for their actions. The hardest thing I ever had to do was call the police on my child because I found stolen property in his closet(the day after I cleaned his room...)But once each time you do it gets easier. How do you live with knowing your child has stolen, or plotted to kill or even managed to kill another human being. Someone else's child. Who gave them that right? If your child is involved in wrong doing TURN THEM IN... It will turn out one of 2 ways, They will continue to be of the criminal mind or you may possibly have made a decision that will turn your child's life around. Parents do the right thing, Be your child's parent, make them responsible for their actions and be all up in their business. You will be surprised what you hear.
Exposing confidential information- could have adverse effect
Why was it necessary to publish the 15 year old girlfriend's name? I assume the parent of the child gave permission for this to happen, as an attempt to give credible witness emphasis on the information brought forth. I wish- in hindsite- the young man lured into this plan had reported it as soon as he became aware of it, and not a year later. Maybe he thought they were kidding...Why would he have new information three weeks prior to the event- if he had excused himself a year before? I'm glad he said something in time to thwart this attack and he should be commended for his conscience leading him to do the right thing. Just don't conduct his trial in the press by bringing things to light that might taint the investigation...