AGROUP OF TEENAGERS COMMITTED AN UNTHINKABLE ACT OF EVIL
Natasha Cornett’s mother Madonna Wallen was, by her own admission, not amodel parent. Separated from Natasha’s father, she found life with her teenage daughter incredibly difficult. She was consumed with frustration, and Natasha was often subjected to her abuse. Natasha had her own mental health problems, so life at home was intolerable. And at school, she was bullied, labelled a freak for the way she chose to dress.
Madonna believed her daughter – who had along history of self-harm –exhibited signs of bipolar disorder, and eventually admitted Natasha to apsychiatric hospital for 11 days. During her stay, Madonna’s concerns about her daughter’s condition were confirmed, and she was placed on Prozac and Lithium. Medics urged Madonna to allow Natasha to stay in hospital, believing she was in need of treatment, but unable to afford the fees needed to keep her in the unit, Natasha was released to her home in Pikeville, Kentucky.
Natasha’s erratic and often violent behaviour was not limited to her home. When she visited her father
Roger, he was often on the receiving end of her fiery temper. He would later say he was afraid of his own daughter, believing that she would “stick him with aknife or something”. So vivid were his fears, he hid all the knives and guns in his home.
‘OUTCASTS’
The combination of an abusive home and school life left Natasha feeling lost and alone. But then she met a group of like-minded teens, so-called “outcasts”, and she finally felt like she belonged. Karen Howell was one such ostracised teen, also hailing from abroken home. Karen was the daughter of areligious mother who would physically assault her. Convinced Karen was possessed, her mother would throw holy water around her bedroom, and she had attempted suicide several times. The two girls found solace in each other, talking often about their troubled home lives. Except for Dean Mullins, who was said to have come from astable and loving home, it was the same for the rest of Natasha’s group of friends –Jason Bryant, Joseph Risner and Crystal Sturgill –who all had adegree of domestic dysfunction.
Escaping reality, the friends would get together, pool their money, and spend the night in motels. On 5April 1997, that is exactly what they decided to do. But this time, they wanted their escape to be more permanent and devised aplan to drive to New Orleans. Natasha would later say she thought they would arrive, then go their separate ways. But the group of six would never got there. Squeezing into Jason’s Chevrolet, the friends embarked on what was to be the start of afatal journey. Enroute, they found their way to Room 7at the Colley Motel. There, surrounded by candles, razor blades and aOuija board, Karen and Natasha discussed taking their own lives. They
