On August 4, 2009, George Sodini, 48, entered a Collier Township fitness club in Pennsylvania, calmly walked into an aerobics class, turned off the lights and fired 52 rounds of bullets on the 20 occupants, killing three women and injuring nine others, before turning the gun on himself.
Why did Sodini do this? What drives a man to become a mass killer? What is the profile of mass murderers?
Sodini’s website foretold of the chilling events and it gives plenty of insight into Sodini’s motivations. Sodini had been keeping a diary on his blog which eluded to plans of killing young girls at the fitness club, for at least a year prior to the shootings.
To read the full text of L.A. Fitness shooter George Sodini’s blog link / online diary from his website click here. George Sodini’s blog link was removed, and it’s unknown, but the text on his website was published and is here.
Let’s talk first about the motivations, warning signs and characteristics of mass killers and mass murderers; the profile of mass murderers. Listen to my list of the various possible contributing factors that lead to a person becoming a mass killer including possible exacerbation of aggressiveness and tendencies to violence due to psychiatric medication; social withdrawal; anti-social behavior, victim mentality; persecution complex; external blame; extreme chronic stress; feelings of powerlessness; lack of emotional support from friends and family; lists of grievances (people who wronged the murderer); feelings of extreme disappointment, frustration and failure; inability to cope with life and its disappointments; feelings that life is now hopeless, bad and beyond redeem; plans and desires for revenge against those who caused them to suffer (often family members or co-workers); desire to hurt the world believing that they are victims in a cruel unjust world which hurt them; access to automatic weapons. (listen to my radio interview outlining the profile of mass murderers – click here.)
Does George Sodini fit this description?
Almost every single aspect of it! Yes. (listen to the radio interview by Patrick Wanis PhD explaining the causes and pyschological profile of gym killer George Sodini)
Was he on medication? We don’t know but in his diary, Sodini spoke of his struggles with alcoholism and listed his date of death as Aug. 4, 2009, the day of the massacre.
Did he have access to automatic weapons. Yes!
Three of the four guns found with Sodini were traced back to him, and authorities are in the process of tracing the fourth. They were two 9 mm semi-automatics, a .45-caliber revolver and a .38 in his pocket. Police say Sodini also had 30-round ammunition clips that were illegal before the assault weapons ban was lifted in 2004.
Now let’s talk about Sodini’s mental and emotional state:
He stopped attending church in 2006 – why is that significant? Only that it may indicate his behavior was becoming anti-social and as listed further below, Sodini turned against religion and even blamed it as creating the most damage in his life and world.
Neighbors described Sodini as antisocial. – a reclusive and said he had stopped talking to them in the past few years.
Sodini listed his status as “Never married,” and he characterized himself as a depressed loner with no way out of his misery other than death. He wrote about never having a meaningful relationship with his father “
In the note found at the scene in Sodini’s gym bag, he complains he had never spent a weekend with a woman, never vacationed with a woman and never lived with a woman, and that he had had limited sexual experiences. He makes similar complaints in his online blog, which also documents his growing rage at women for rejecting him and at the world he felt had abandoned him.
George Sodini’s website foretold of the chilling events which took place at a Collier Township fitness club in Pennsylvania. Sodini had been keeping a diary on his blog, eluding to plans of killing young girls at the fitness club, for at least a year prior to the shootings.
George Sodini allegedly entered the fitness club, calmly entered an aerobics class, turned off the lights and opened fire on the 20 or so occupants, killing three people and injuring nine others, before turning the gun on himself.
Sodini blamed everyone and found bad in everyone: his father, brother, mother, religion, church, right-wing people and women. Sodini also claimed he had no one to help guide or counsel him, no one to tell him what he is doing wrong in his life. He hated women, religion, his life and was jealous of young people and felt his situation was totally hopeless.
Blog entries state that Sodini planned to commit the murders a year ago but decided against it.
An entry in Sodini’s blog, posted November 5, 2008 states, “Planned to do this in the summer but figure to stick around to see the election outcome. This particular one got so much attention and I was just curious…”
These statistics for George Sodini were also posted in his blog. Note the date of death, August 4, 2009 – the same day as the shootings.
George Sodini
Age 48.
DOB 9/30/1960
DOD 8/4/2009
5-10, 155 lbs.
Never married.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
Below are some excerpts from his online diary/blog which reveal much of his pain and motivations. All spelling errors remain:
“My dad never (not once) talked to me or asked about my life’s details and tell me what he knew. He was just a useless sperm doner. Don’t know why, find it fun talking to young kids when I visit someone. Brother was actually counter-productive and would try to embarase me or discourage my efferts when persuing things, esp girls early on (teen years). Useless bully. Result is I am learning basics by trial and error in my 40s, followed by discuragement. Seems odd, but thats true. Writing all this is helping me justify my plan and to see the futility of continuing…
Mum – The Central Boss. [address] Don’t piss her off or she will be mad and vindictive for years. She actually thinks she’s normal. Very dominant. Her way and only her way with no flexibility toward everyone in the household. A power and control thing. People outside the immediate family like her. Why are people vicious with their closest ones? She is the Boss above all other Bosses…
Religion: have been in barrooms and church groups. The worst people by far are the religious types. Especially a right-wing, stiff-faced fundie like Andy. A condescending, demeaning, passive-aggresive person. Frigid, rigid, linear and totally inflexible. Being a very serious person, he cannot hide his frown-lined face. He better not try to smile; lest his face might crack. I knew children of parents who grew up in strict religious homes. Religion has a certain stink to it of guilt, shame, fear, and that moral standard that always contradicts the natural tendencies and desires of a person…
…as pastor Rick Knapp would proclaim. Holy —-, religion is a waste. But this guy teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Ask him. Call him at [phone number]. If no answer there, he should still live at [address]. In any case, guilt and fear kept me there 13 long years until Nov 2006. I think his crap did the most damage.
I like to write and talk. Ironic because I haven’t met anybody recently (past 30 years) who I want to be close friends with OR who want to be close friends with me. I was always open to suggestions to what I am doing wrong, no brother or father (mine are useless) or close friend to nudge me and give it bluntly yet tactfully wtf I am doing wrong. A personal coach or someone who knows what he is doing would be perfect. Money is highly secondary for a solution…
I have slept alone for over 20 years. Last time I slept all night with a girlfriend it was 1982. Proof I am a total malfunction. Girls and women don’t even give me a second look ANYWHERE. There is something BLATANTLY wrong with me that NO goddam person will tell me what it is. Every person just wants to be —- nice and say nice things to me. Flattery. Oh yeah, I am sure you can get a date anytime. You look good, etc. —-. Awwww, wait. I can just start being self-righteous and say I live a good, clean life. I am holy, that’s all Rick Knapp stuff. Hear that you —-: I Am Just Good!..
Everthing stays the same regardless of the effert I put in. If I had control over my life then I would be happier. But for about the past 30 years, I have not.”
To read the full text of L.A. Fitness shooter George Sodini’s blog link / online diary from his website click here. George Sodini’s blog link was removed, and it’s unknown, but the text on his website was published and is here.
Anointed “The Woman Expert” by WGN Chicago, Patrick Wanis PhD is a renowned Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert who developed SRTT therapy (Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique) and is teaching it to other practitioners. Wanis’ clientele ranges from celebrities and CEOs to housewives and teenagers. CNN, BBC, FOX News, MSNBC & major news outlets worldwide consult Wanis for his expert insights and analysis on sexuality, human behavior and women’s issues. Wanis is the first person ever to do hypnotherapy on national TV – on the Montel Williams show.