6th grader kills duck and ducklings with pencil, thinks its fine

[Grimmlok]

WICHITA, Kansas (AP) -- A sixth-grader stabbed to death a mother duck and two ducklings that had nested near a school, distressing the other children and alarming officials who said the boy needs mental health treatment.

Students at Wilbur Middle School had named the mother duck Lucy and were monitoring her and her brood, making sure no one disturbed the nest in a grassy creek bed. Their mutilated bodies -- stabbed with a pencil -- were found this week.

An announcement over the public address system led the boy to admit the killings, officials said. They said he had also talked about the act to classmates and didn't understand why it was wrong.

The boy, whose name was not released, was suspended Wednesday. His return to the school will hinge on a hearing.

School officials were responding "the way we do whenever we believe that a child might be a risk to himself or others," said Liz McGinness, who coordinates the district's mental health crisis team.

She said his parents were being told they must seek outside mental health care. "We really don't mince words on this," she said. "We know that animal cruelty is a very serious, significant behavior."

No decision has been made on possible criminal charges. Killing mallard ducks is illegal this time of year, and even in hunting season, the way they were killed would be illegal, officials said.

Mark Rankin, assistant director of law enforcement for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, said the boy may not be charged because of his age. A hunting violation charge could bring an adult up to seven days in jail and a $250 fine, while animal cruelty carries up to a year in jail and $10,000 in fines, he said.

Kris Meckenstock said his seventh-grade son helped monitor the nest and "just can't believe somebody could be so mean."

"By the same token, I think that kid obviously needs help," Meckenstock added. "My thought is, we need to look a little bit further and find out why somebody would have those tendencies."

Wilbur students and staff held a ceremony Thursday "to share their grief for these animals," McGinness said.

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Yeah, might wanna lock that one up. He's missing his empathy chip, someoen forgot to install it in the womb and now he's set on psycho-mode.

[Just Kill Me]

Indeed; he's a future serial killer... anyone die mysteriously around the bad seed?

[greysfang]

I think criminal charges on a 12 year old for killing a duck are a bit much, and almost certainly won't happen here in Kansas. But I certainly hope they get some therapy for this boy. What I want to know is, does he still wet the bed?

[Just Kill Me]

I'm sure he exhibits a massive amount of behaviors that would have a shrink thinking "OMG, I don't think my DSMIV covers this..." He killed ducks with a PENCIL!

[greysfang]

I shot a squirrel with a BB gun when I was 9, I didn't turn into a serial killer. But, I think the kid should be evaluated at the very least.

[Just Kill Me]

Shooting with a BB gun is different; I shot guns as child but never at an animal... anyway, he killed them with a PENCIL!!!!! How much time did that take? That's adding a level of mutilation to the act... oh you know what, I'm going to take my stance on the death penalty to an extreme and let's just get this one out of the way and save everyone a couple of years. That was horribly wrong, I know. I think I'm a little hung over today.

[McJag]

This was up close and savage. I wouldn't want him in class with my child. He needs intense supervision. Alas-you can't give a child empathy. He can't learn it. Can you imagine how upset the other kids are?

[nwgirl]

Twenty years from now when they find him munching on some dead prostitutes frozen head, his family will be like "he was so quiet, we never had any indications he was capable of something like this".

[Martirio]

Poor ducks... That's one sick bastard. I wouldn't feel sorry for him if he was brutally killed.

[Honey]

Very sick.

Needs alot of help

[celeb_2006]

Twenty years from now when they find him munching on some dead prostitutes frozen head, his family will be like "he was so quiet, we never had any indications he was capable of something like this".

Totally agree

[CRAZY 'N' NUTS]

With pencils? wtf? this story sent a cold chill down my spine. I hope someone disciplines him. He needs to understand what he did was wrong! If he is in 6 grade he must be 11 or 12...same age as my neice. Kids at that age know what's wrong or right! He needs to be locked up somewhere, before he turns into a serial killer.

[MrsDark]

Therapy suggetion: Guys 5 times his size dressed in duck suits chase him down and stab him with pencils while "quacking"?

Too bad all these fucked up little demonseeds can't be adopted by guys like the "dad" in flashbacks on Dexter (if anyone watches/ed this on Showtime).

[Aella]

Check out the little serial killer in training.

[princesspink]

I feel sorry for this kid. I feel sorry that he is so small and he could do something so gory. We arent even sure what his background is like. Of course, that shouldnt be an excuse to let him go, he needs professional help.