Mother has some responsibility

Opinion
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Mother has some responsibility

Opinion
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They say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. That old adage certainly holds true in the case of convicted teen murderer, Holly Harvey.

Harvey, 16, and her 16-year-old lover Sandy Ketchum were convicted of murdering Harvey's adoptive elderly grandparents, Sarah and Carl Collier, in their north Fayette County home.

The Colliers took Harvey in while her mother, Carla Harvey, sat in a prison cell at Metro State Prison for marijuana possession. Harvey didn't like the parent entrusted to her care so she convinced her grandparents to take her in.

Harvey was grateful to be living with the Colliers, but instead of thanking her grandparents for giving up their golden years to become full-time parents again, Harvey and her friend decided to murder them.

Why? Because the grandparents didn't approve of her lesbian relationship.

What a piece of work Harvey must be. She obviously has a big problem with authority: A trait I'm sure didn't spring up overnight.

Unbeknownst to the Colliers, Harvey had a murderous rage just waiting to rear its ugly head.

Can you imagine the shock, disappointment and sheer terror the Colliers felt as they tried to fight off someone they tried to open their hearts and homes to, and raise with good Christian morals?

Who is responsible for that evil streak?

You can't blame the grandparents. The blame for Harvey's behavior lies on her parents' shoulders.

Harvey is no angel, but it's no wonder Harvey became entangled in a web of drugs and crime. Look at who she had for a role model: Her mother, the convicted drug felon.

Don't ask Ms. Carla Harvey if she feels the least bit responsible for her daughter's murderous actions. You won't get an honest or responsible answer from her.

With a straight face, Ms. Harvey told the news media that she is "absolutely not at all" responsible for her daughter's actions.

Ms. Harvey said her daughter, who committed double-murder at 15, was old enough to make her own decisions.

Ms. Harvey said her daughter told her that she was on drugs, and she believes drugs drove her daughter to do it. She said the daughter she raised would not do such a thing.

Ms. Harvey overlooked the fact that her work associate, Calvin Lawson, allegedly sold the teens crack cocaine and marijuana they used to get high with before they killed the Colliers.

Nevermind the fact that Harvey was engaging in the same behavior her mother was locked up for.

Here's a news flash, Ms. Harvey. You are responsible.

Ms. Harvey didn't hand her daughter the knife, but I'm sure the pass the buck mentality and her mother's poor judgment fostered her behavior.

I am not a psychologist, but I've been around long enough to know that children mirror the behavior of their parents. If the parents spend their lives getting high, hanging around seedy men and engaging in illicit behavior, then many times the child will follow suit.

If Ms. Harvey spent more time raising her daughter instead of trying to blame the world for being a single parent, then she would have known that her daughter was hanging out with the wrong crowd.

And instead of looking the other way or trying to find someone to blame, Ms. Harvey would have tried to step in, get help from authorities if need be and steer her in the right direction.

Because Ms. Harvey failed to be the parent that Holly needed, the world has suffered an immeasurable loss. But don't ask Ms. Harvey because she's not responsible.

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