Podcasts > Rotten Mango > #350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

By Stephanie Soo & Ramble

This episode of Rotten Mango delves into the disturbing case of Brian Cohee Jr., a young man who exhibited violent tendencies from an early age, and the tragic murder of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes.

The summary details Cohee's troubling psychological issues, which escalated despite interventions. It then recounts the brutal killing of Barnes, an innocent community member targeted by Cohee simply out of curiosity. Cohee's chilling confession and lack of remorse during the investigation are also highlighted, showcasing his detachment from the gravity of his actions. Additionally, the summary examines the failure of various systems to adequately respond to the warning signs presented by Cohee, despite clear indications of mental health issues and risk factors for violence.

#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

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#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

1-Page Summary

Brian Cohee Jr.'s lifelong disturbing behavior

Brian Cohee Jr. showed severe psychological issues from a young age, escalating into his adult years with violent tendencies and criminal actions. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism, his prescribed medications for ADHD and a depressive disorder could not curb his behavioral problems. He exhibited early violent tendencies, such as rumored involvement in missing neighborhood cats and even admitting to killing a cat for enjoyment. His parents found a "kill kit" in his room and confronted him but did not escalate the issue to authorities.

His online presence was equally troubling, sharing posts about making weapons, harming children, and discussing violent thoughts without remorse. His search history was riddled with queries about the lethality of stab wounds and coping with homicidal ideation. Friends noted his frequent discussions about killing, and his internet behavior revealed a dehumanizing viewpoint and fascination with serial killers, including Jeffrey Dahmer.

The murder of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes

Warren Barnes, affectionately known as "The Reading Man," was a beloved and harmless community member. His routine life was tragically ended by Brian Cohee Jr., who specifically targeted someone he believed wouldn't be missed. Cohee brutally murdered and mutilated Barnes, a decision made out of sheer "curiosity" about murder. He wrapped Barnes' body, severed his head and hands, and disposed of them separately, inflicting a Glasgow smile and gouging out the eyes. Cohee methodically planned the crime and even expressed frustration when a bone broke during dismemberment, showing a heinous disregard for human life compared to Warren's gentle existence.

Brian's chilling confession and lack of remorse

Brian Cohee Jr.'s interrogation was marked by a chilling lack of remorse as he detailed his murder of Warren Barnes. He re-enacted the stabbing for investigators, described the dismemberment process, and explained how he disposed of the body without any sign of distress. He showed amusement when recounting the act and the reactions of the investigators, showcasing a temperament removed from the gravity of his actions. His main motivation was to experience what murder felt like, a feeling he had been curious about after reading about infamous murderers. Throughout the interrogation, his detachment from the crime was evident, as was his lack of empathy for the victim or the community's loss.

Failure of systems meant to help Brian and prevent this

Multiple systems failed to adequately respond to the warning signs presented by Brian Cohee Jr. His parents noticed peculiar behaviors and ignored red flags, such as his interest in morbid topics or the bloody "kill kit." Although he did receive some psychological counseling, there was no substantive intervention following his behavioral escalation. School counselors and peers recognized Brian's threatening demeanor, but the educational system seemed unable to provide the necessary support. Even when his actions were identified as a risk, the system did not take steps to potentially prevent his path toward violence. The lack of intervention despite clear signs of mental health issues illustrates significant oversights and missed opportunities to help Brian and prevent his eventual murderous act.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • A Glasgow smile, also known as a Chelsea smile, is a gruesome act where a victim's mouth is cut from the corners up to the ears, leaving a scar resembling a smile. This violent practice is typically carried out using a sharp object like a utility knife or broken glass, resulting in a scar that gives the appearance of a forced smile. The term is linked to Glasgow, Scotland, where it is said to have originated in the 1920s and 30s.
  • Jeffrey Dahmer was an infamous American serial killer and sex offender who committed heinous crimes involving murder, necrophilia, and cannibalism between 1978 and 1991. He was diagnosed with various mental disorders but was deemed legally sane during his trial. Dahmer's crimes shocked the world due to their extreme and gruesome nature.
  • Homicidal ideation is a term used to describe thoughts or fantasies about committing murder. It can range from fleeting ideas to detailed plans without actual action. While common, most individuals with homicidal ideation do not go on to commit homicide. It can be associated with various mental health conditions like psychosis or may occur in individuals without detectable illnesses.
  • A "kill kit" typically refers to a collection of tools or items assembled by an individual to aid in committing a murder. These kits can include weapons, gloves, cleaning supplies, and other materials needed to carry out a killing. The discovery of a "kill kit" is often seen as a significant red flag indicating a person's intent to harm others. In the context provided, finding a "kill kit" in Brian Cohee Jr.'s room suggests a disturbing level of premeditation and preparation for violent acts.
  • Dismemberment is the act of separating or removing limbs or body parts from a living or deceased individual. It can be a result of various circumstances, such as accidents, criminal acts like murder, or even as a form of punishment historically. In criminology, dismemberment can be categorized as offensive (intentional dismemberment) or defensive (to conceal evidence). The process involves the complete removal of significant body sections like the head, arms, torso, or legs.
  • Behavioral escalation is the progression of problematic actions or tendencies over time, often becoming more severe or intense. It describes a pattern where behaviors, such as aggression or violence, increase in frequency or intensity as an individual's psychological issues worsen. This term is commonly used to illustrate how certain behaviors can develop and become more concerning if left unaddressed.
  • "Substantive intervention" in the context of mental health and behavioral issues typically refers to significant and meaningful actions taken to address and improve a person's condition or behavior. It involves comprehensive and effective measures beyond just surface-level or temporary solutions. In the case of Brian Cohee Jr., it would have meant implementing substantial and impactful strategies to address his psychological issues and prevent his violent tendencies from escalating further. This could include intensive therapy, medication adjustments, specialized treatment programs, or other interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of his disturbing behavior.
  • Oversights in this context indicate failures or mistakes made by various systems that were meant to identify and address concerning behaviors or issues exhibited by Brian Cohee Jr. These oversights led to a lack of intervention and support, ultimately contributing to the tragic outcome of his actions. The term highlights the missed opportunities and shortcomings in recognizing and responding to warning signs effectively.

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#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

Brian Cohee Jr.'s lifelong disturbing behavior

Brian Cohee Jr. exhibited symptoms of severe psychological issues from an early age that only escalated into adulthood, culminating in criminal behavior.

Diagnosed mental illnesses did not prevent his crime

Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of five and later with autism, Brian Cohee Jr. was kept on medication for ADHD, an antidepressant, and diagnosed with a depressive disorder by high school. His dose of antidepressants was increased a few months before the murder. Despite these interventions, Brian's doctors reported he displayed no signs of psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and he never spoke of self-harm or harming others.

Stephanie Soo clarifies that Brian was diagnosed with "level one autism," although she notes that psychiatrists no longer use "levels" to describe autism, and the term "high functioning" is currently disfavored within the community.

Animal abuse and violent tendencies as a child

As a toddler, Brian showed disturbing behaviors, like licking his shoes clean and damaging his nail beds, putting him at risk for infections. His violent tendencies manifested in rumors that he was behind cats going missing in his neighborhood. A friend believed he was responsible for killing a local cat, and Brian himself confessed to killing a cat for entertainment.

After his parents discovered what they described as a "kill kit" in his room, they confronted him with the option to dispose of the items or face police intervention.

Increasingly alarming online posts detailing violent thoughts

Brian Cohee's behavior grew increasingly alarming due to his disturbing online activity. On Reddit, he posted about creating makeshift weapons, hitting a child with disabilities which he found entertaining, and expressed no remorse for these actions. His online diary logs, which included details of triggering a classmate’s PTSD for fun, showed a fascination with people’s reactions to pain and horror.

His internet searches included looking up the lethality of stab wounds, coping with murderous thoughts, and homicidal ideation. His participation in online forums reflected a violent sense of humor and disturbing interests, includin ...

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Brian Cohee Jr.'s lifelong disturbing behavior

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • A "kill kit" typically refers to a collection of items or tools assembled by an individual with the intention of carrying out violent acts or crimes. In Brian's case, the discovery of a "kill kit" in his room suggests that he had gathered specific items that could potentially be used for harmful purposes, indicating a premeditated and dangerous mindset. The presence of such a kit can be a significant red flag for law enforcement and mental health professionals, as it indicates a level of planning and preparation for violent actions. The term "kill kit" underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential threat posed by the individual in question.
  • Brian Cohee Jr.'s online activity included posts where he discussed harmful actions towards children with disabilities and triggering PTSD for amusement. These disturbing online behaviors revealed a lack of empathy and a troubling fascination with causing pain and distress to others. Brian's comments showcased a concerning disregard for the well-being of vulnerable individuals and a pattern of expressing violent and harmful thoughts in online forums. His online presence highlighted a disturbing mindset that lacked moral boundaries and empathy towards others.
  • Brian Cohee Jr.'s fascination with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer could stem from a morbid curiosity with infamous criminal figures. Dahmer was a notorious serial killer and sex offender who committed gruesome acts, which might have intrigued Brian due to his own dark interests and mindset. People with similar disturbing tendencies sometimes fixate on notorious criminals as a way to explore their own violent thoughts or fantasies. This fascination could have contributed to Brian's already troubling behavior and mindset.
  • Brian Cohee Jr.'s online searches about stab wounds, murderous thoughts, and homicidal ideation indicate a deep interest in violent and harmful behaviors. These searches suggest a preoccupation with understanding and potentially carrying out violent acts. They reflect a concerning pattern of behavior and thought related to harming others.
  • Brian's expressions of paranoid fears and feeling watched by inanimate objects suggest he may have been experiencing symptoms of paranoia, a type of delusion where a person believes they are being threatened or watched. This could indicate a distorted perception of reality, where everyday objects or situations are perceived as having a sinister or threatening quality. These feelings of being watched by inanimate objects could be a manifestation of Br ...

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#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

The murder of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes

The peaceful life of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes, a cherished community member, came to a tragic end due to a senseless act of violence.

Warren was a beloved community fixture

Warren Barnes was known for his daily routine of purchasing coffee, and occasionally a donut, at a local gas station. His punctuality was evident at his gig-based job, where he helped with tasks such as breaking down boxes or doing lawn work. On his days off, he could be found reading outside a bridal boutique, where he was known for his love of cowboy western mysteries. Locals fondly referred to him as "The Reading Man," a comforting presence within the Grand Junction community. The local paper celebrated Warren for his polite manner; he never begged or hassled anyone, choosing instead to acknowledge people with a simple nod or kind words. Monique, a friend, remembered him as a man who wanted to avoid being a burden to others and would share his bread with birds as an act of generosity. A metal life-sized chair now stands as a permanent memorial to Warren in front of the bridal shop, with a stack of books and the top book spine reading, "and you also."

Brian targeted him randomly out of "curiosity"

Brian Cohee Jr., on the other hand, sought a victim out of a perverse "curiosity." He targeted a vulnerable person, one he thought would not be missed or prioritized by the authorities. Stephanie Soo detailed Cohee's premeditation, noting that he sought someone who "lived that type of life," believing that the case would not receive much attention.

During his heinous act, Cohee wrapped Warren's body in canvas, mistakenly believed by his mother Terry to be a homeless person hidden in her son's closet. Inside her kitchen sink, she found a severed head and hands covered by a blue towel.

The brutal decapitation and dismemberment

The crime scene was a gruesome sight. Investigators discovered body parts -- a human arm chopped at the elbow, hands removed, and another arm that seemed to lead up to a shoulder. Warren's body was found headless and armless, with his abdomen savagely cut open. His legs bore ...

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The murder of Warren "The Reading Man" Barnes

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Brian Cohee Jr. targeted Warren Barnes out of a perverse "curiosity," believing that Warren's lifestyle would make him a less noticeable victim. Cohee's premeditation stemmed from his assumption that targeting someone like Warren would not attract significant attention from authorities. This sense of anonymity and perceived lack of repercussions fueled Cohee's decision to commit the heinous act against Warren.
  • Warren Barnes was brutally murdered by Brian Cohee Jr., who inflicted severe injuries on him, including decapitation, dismemberment, and mutilation. The crime scene was described as gruesome, with investigators finding Warren's body parts scattered and showing signs of a violent attack. Cohee confessed to the vicious nature of the crime, detailing the extent of the injuries he inflicted on Warren's body. The heinous act starkly contrasts with Warren's peaceful life as a beloved comm ...

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#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

Brian's chilling confession and lack of remorse

The interrogation of Brian Cohee Jr. reveals a disturbing lack of emotional response or remorse as he details his actions around the murder of Warren Brown.

Detailed re-enactment for investigators

During the police interaction, Brian nonchalantly disclosed that he murdered Warren Brown with a knife and demonstrated the stabbing to the interrogator, showing how he straddled the victim and brought his hand down repeatedly. He described in detail how he dismembered Warren Barnes' body, comparing his method to pressing down on the blade like peeling garlic. He mentioned his frustration regarding the breaking of a bone during the dismemberment but showed no distress during the recounting.

Furthermore, Brian meticulously described disposing of the limbs and head, handling Barnes' wallet, as well as cleaning the murder weapon and clothes. He recounts how he cleaned up after the murder, washing his jumpsuit and remedying the issue of leaving a partial fingerprint by driving back to the body, picking it up in a different outfit, and disposing of it in a river. Brian described the logistical challenges he encountered during the disposal process, such as getting his car stuck, with what appears to be a lack of distress.

Amusement at shocking reactions

Brian enjoys the energy in the interrogation room and feels at ease. He is entertained by the reactions from the interrogators as they laugh and engage with his storytelling. He savors the interrogators' reactions, watching their faces for horror or admiration. Brian chuckled when he called the victim an "old man," found his own mislabeling of the victim's age amusing, and displayed amusement when speculating about someone potentially seeing him right after the murder.

Cohee laughed and showed amusement when he made jesting remarks about the bystander effect. He also made a kicking motion while explaining his actions, likening it to kicking away trash, which indicates a disregard for the victim. He giggled while recalling that the police found blood on the bumper of his car, noting that the police were eager to examine the car's trunk without realizing there was nothing inside it. Brian smiled and leaned back in his chair when discussing his plans for disposing the head and hands, indicating a level of detachment.

After the interrogation, while being led to booking, Brian smiled at the officer and compared himself to Hannibal Lecter, showing a degree of amusement about the situation.

Primary motivation was wonder about "what murd ...

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Brian's chilling confession and lack of remorse

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when others are present. This diffusion of responsibility can lead to inaction or reduced assistance from individuals witnessing a crisis. In the context of the confession, the perpetrator's amusement at the bystander effect suggests a callous disregard for the impact of his actions on others and a lack of empathy towards potential witnesses.
  • Brian Cohee Jr.'s emotional state and mental health during the interrogation are not explicitly detailed in the text. ...

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#350: Mom Found Human Head + Severed Hands In TEEN SON’s Closet

Failure of systems meant to help Brian and prevent this

Systemic failures, parental oversights, and ineffectual school interventions surrounded the troubled life of Brian, culminating in a tragic event that perhaps could have been avoided with proper attention and intervention.

Parents overlooked escalating disturbing signs

Brian's parents noticed several disturbing signs, but their reactions fell short of addressing the underlying issues. When they found blood on their son's car, they were shocked, yet their actions did not extend beyond speculating it might be fake blood from a special effects class Brian took. Despite odd behaviors and the discovery of a "kill kit" in his room, the extent of the parents' intervention was to give him an ultimatum to dispose of the kit. Even with Brian's unusual sense of humor and interest in morbid topics, such as a joke about poisoning beauty pageant queens, his parents brushed it off as a misunderstanding of his sense of humor rather than seeing it as a potential warning sign.

Terry, Brian's mother, did bring Brian to a psychologist after noticing his behavior was off, yet there's no mention of specific follow-up actions regarding these escalating signs. Furthermore, Brian's parents supported him during his trial, despite acknowledged escalations in his behavior.

School counselors recognized the threat but were powerless

Brian exhibited antisocial behavior that did not go unnoticed by school counselors and his peers. His classmates expressed feeling unsafe around him to their teachers. Brian's fascination with infamous figures like Adolf Hitler and Ted Bundy concerned a counselor who was trying to understand his goals. Teachers agreed that he was a troubled kid, with his English teacher raising the alarm about him from the first week of school.

However, despite these obvious red flags, the school system seemed incapable of offering the help Brian needed. Teachers saw him as a potential danger to others, and after making inappropriate sexual comments, he garnered a suspension. One teacher wasn't surprised by his eventual actions, feeling let down by a system that had ample warning yet failed to help. Brian's history teacher, Jeremy, noted classwide i ...

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Failure of systems meant to help Brian and prevent this

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • A "kill kit" typically refers to a collection of items assembled by an individual for the purpose of carrying out a violent act, such as a murder. It can include weapons, tools, gloves, masks, or any other items that may aid in the commission of a crime. The presence of a "kill kit" is a serious red flag indicating potential intent to harm others. In the context of the text, the discovery of a "kill kit" in Brian's room suggests a concerning level of premeditation and preparation for violence.
  • After noticing Brian's concerning behavior, his mother, Terry, took him to see a psychologist for evaluation. However, the text does not provide details on any specific actions taken by the psychologist or Terry following this evaluation. This lack of follow-up information leaves a gap in understanding the extent of professional intervention and support provided to address Brian's escalating issues.
  • When Brian's behavior was categorized as beyond his counselor's skill set, it means that the counselor felt unable to effectively address or manage the complexities and severity of Brian's mental health issues and behaviors. This classification suggests that Brian's challenges required a higher level of expertise or specialized training that the counselor did not possess, indicating the need for a more experienced or specialized mental health professional to intervene and provide appropriate support and treatment for Brian.
  • Brian's self-assessment as manipulative and emotionally detached suggests that he recognized these traits within himself. This self-awareness indicates that Brian had some insight into his own behavior and emotional responses. It implies that he understood how he interacted with others and processed his feelings in a way that could be seen as detache ...

Counterarguments

  • Parents may have been in denial or lacked the knowledge to recognize the severity of the signs, which could be a systemic issue rather than individual negligence.
  • School counselors and teachers may have been constrained by privacy laws, lack of resources, or institutional policies that limit their ability to intervene effectively.
  • The school system's failure could reflect broader societal issues, such as underfunded mental health services or inadequate training for educators in handling such situations.
  • Brian's attendance at multiple counseling sessions could indicate an attempt by the system to address his issues, even if ultimately unsuccessful.
  • The referral of Brian to a more specialized mental health professional could be seen as a responsible action by the counselor who recognized the limits of their expertise.
  • Brian's self-awareness and discussions with his therapist could suggest that there was some level of engagement with the mental health system, which may have been working towa ...

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