is a lot of disturbing messages for a killer.
with postmarks from all over the united states and europe, they are for women, girls and adult men. some are handwritten, others are typed. they are written on college ruled notebook paper and stylish cartoon greeting cards. some are filled with sexually suggestive photos of women and teens in lingerie.
There’s even a handwritten note from a Girl Scout troop in New Jersey, signed by more than a dozen girls. “God forgive me,” they wrote.
All of the mail pieces seem to share a theme: They sympathize with the person they are addressed to: Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
the broward county public defender’s office, which represents cruz, says that between 100 and 200 pieces of mail have arrived at the county jail where cruz is being held.
Veteran Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein told CNN that he has never seen a defendant receive so many letters, which began arriving shortly after Cruz’s arrest on February 14. “Not even close,” he said.
CNN was allowed to view a small sample of Cruz’s mail: photocopies of letters provided to the Public Defender’s Office by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. of those, there was not a letter criticizing the confessed murderer. Several people, in fact, offered to send money to Cruz.
why? some people may sympathize with the way cruz has been portrayed as a very struggling person, said dr. robi ludwig, psychotherapist and commentator.
“There are some people who are more codependent in terms of mindset who think, ‘oh, this poor soul. I can fix it I can be important in his life,’” she said.
Another possibility is that those who write to the cross become desensitized to violence throughout their own lives, Ludwig said.
“They are drawn to danger. they like someone who is dangerous. They grew up in violence. they’re numb to it and, in some cases, it’s indirectly exciting.”
these letters are part of the cross file, but he may not know that most of them exist. Cruz does not have access to the media, so unless his lawyers or relatives tell him, he will not hear from them. Finkelstein said that he has only shared the content of the religious cross cards.
Cruz cannot receive mail while on suicide watch, Finkelstein said. The public defender said he didn’t know if Cruz would get the mail from her if she gets off suicide watch.
finkelstein said he allowed to see the letters to show that the case was still “horrible.” he has been pushing for a plea deal ever since the shooting, where his client pleads guilty in exchange for 34 consecutive life sentences. it would spare the victims’ families the trauma of a lengthy legal battle, he argues.
here is a sample of the cards and letters sent to cruz. cnn was not allowed to post images of them.
letter from germany
description: letter from a 20-year-old German university student who says she wants to be friends with Cruz.
message: “I feel sorry for you, since the media represents you without acknowledging what you have been through in recent years”.
“sometimes we have no control over what happens to us, but we always have absolute control over how we react to it”.
“if you’re looking for someone to write with, no matter the subject, I’m here.”
card with the image of a monkey
description: card with a cartoon monkey hanging from a tree saying “hang on”.
card message: “I know you could use a good friend right now. hang there. keep your head up!”
message on envelope: “no one else is dealing with your demons, which means maybe defeating them could be the beginning of your meaning, friend.” (written in pink or violet ink with a heart. the lyrics are the lyrics of a song by the group twenty-one pilots).
letter from florida
Description: Letter from a 19-year-old Florida woman who sent two photos of herself. the letter is written on school-regulated paper in beautiful handwriting.
Message: The woman wants to know how Cruz is doing and says it’s important that he has someone to talk to. she asks if they can be “writing partners” and says that she sent photos so he has a visual image of who is writing to him.
“p.s. let me know how it goes,” she writes. “please.” (smiling face).