The Travis Reinking Case
Added 2022-10-23 14:58:39 +0000 UTCI was away last week so posting this a little early for ya!
Comments
This breaks my heart
Peggy Gansberg
2022-11-02 17:33:12 +0000 UTCWhat an incredibly sad and heartbreaking story, all 'round. ),=
SaGu
2022-10-29 15:10:31 +0000 UTCYou are an incredible reporter, I live about 20 minutes from his hometown, and learned several details from you I hadn't heard mentioned before. I think the parents were in deep denial of their son's mental illness, but his dad should face the consequences for breaking the law by giving his son's guns back to him, when he knew his son could not legally possess them, and the police had specifically told him not to give the guns back to his son. I think a guilty, but mentally insane, would have been the correct verdict, I don't know if the jury were given that option.
Rhonda Jockisch Tisdale
2022-10-29 13:52:51 +0000 UTCI think this guy was a victim of the system and I rarely say that. In fact, I think this is only the 2nd time Ive said this, out of thousands of true crime cases. But come on. This guy was in the care and safety of doctors and professionals and they gave him a script and sent him on his way never to be helpful again. His Dad giving him guns, knowing full well that his son was suffering from delusions and hallucinations and paranoia, the calls to 911 where his behavior was threatening to others. And what? They say "boys will be boys" or what? Why wasnt he better protected from himself, as well as the public protected from him? I would have been a juror that suggested mental hospital for life. That way, he could AT LEAST be medicated and treated properly and not putting himself and inmates in further danger. He has no grip of reality. This WAS one of the rare insanity pleas that should have stuck. Just my opinion. I wrote a lot lol so I may just copy and paste this to youtube too lol
Constance Keller
2022-10-27 17:12:28 +0000 UTCI just saw this Mike and if it's not on your list already I feel like it should be https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/27/london-woman-guilty-decapitating-friend-inheritance-jemma-mitchell-murdered-mee-kuen-chong
Emily POWELL
2022-10-27 12:27:35 +0000 UTCI strongly believe the father is equally responsible for this, what an idiot.
Helen
2022-10-27 09:19:05 +0000 UTCAlso I should add I too live in Australia, Sydney now but previously Brisbane and it is unfortunate that our health care system allows the mentally ill to just go home like you said with your mum, there isn't enough funding, Brisbane is in severe crisis with funding their healthcare system it's so bad and as you said it's an average of 4 to 5wks for the meds to to take effect or to discover that particular medication isn't suitable for that person and new one must be tried and the 4 to 5wk process starts again and in that time there are no other options. Unfortunately there is little options for committing a person into care and I understand the reasoning behind this but it can also like in your case be a total disadvantage. I hope things get better for you guys.
Courtney Tunbridge
2022-10-26 18:11:12 +0000 UTCSo sorry for what you have been through Nicole, no child no matter whether still young or all grown up should ever have to see their parents suffer like that. It is so unfortunate that a lot of people with mental illness (not all, but a few) get trapped in the cycle of being ill, seeking treatment, getting treatment, feeling better, then stopping their meds, then becoming ill again, round and round they go seemingly never figuring out the very reason they feel better isn't because they are better as in cured but the medication they are taking is working allowing them to "feel better" again. I have seen this happen so many times with my brother who has bipolar, also a girlfriend who also has bipolar and several relatives and friends who have been suffering depression, I have battled depression for 12yrs now but am very acutely aware that my meds are helping me exactly the way it's supposed to allowing me to live a relatively normal life, I have tried so many times to explain this to those I mentioned earlier that stop their meds because they feel "better" but they don't listen or believe me, then within weeks their lives are spiralling out of control and they think it's everyone else, it's so hard and frustrating so I thoroughly understand all that you have experienced.
Courtney Tunbridge
2022-10-26 18:03:30 +0000 UTCMy mum has the same mental illness as this guy. The meds work wonders these days. But recently mum stopped taking meds without us knowing until it was clearly too late. I watched my mum bash her head against a concrete wall saying that she has to do that to save me. A lot of weird stuff happened and my brother and I took shifts with mum and took her to the hospital. The hospital gave mum meds but not all she needed and sent her home. The system here in Australia is broken these days. I was totally flawed that they didn’t commit mum but instead let her go home to struggle for a month before the meds kicked in. The hospital did arrange for 2 home visits but nothing further. I’ve seen so much scary stuff in my life and at one stage the doctors used to inject mums meds every 2 weeks. which really truly helped. That was awesome cause then we didn’t need to stress out about taking the meds orally. I swear it’s very easy for them to pretend to take the meds unless they take them in front of you. In this case it’s pretty clear that the illness came on in his 20’s and your right about that. So the family tried to get help and then the son wasn’t taking the meds. This is also where the parents failed him. But also the father giving the gun back was negligent 💯. I gotta say that the parents were not educated and neglected to keep helping their son. I’m upset that people were killed because of him. The court was not fair in this case. He should have been in a mental hospital not jail. I only say this because I am well aware that the U.S. jail system is not the place for mental illness. Love ya Mike
nicole stewart
2022-10-26 07:53:40 +0000 UTCI hope you had Bald eagle nuggets and freedom juice while here big dog.
Borlande
2022-10-26 04:46:22 +0000 UTCHey, just wondering about something. I thought you did a video on Frank Howard, but I can't find it. Am I wrong? I wanted to show my mom.
Joycee
2022-10-25 22:02:24 +0000 UTCI am grateful your back, love the work😉
CHATTYGREATGRANNY
2022-10-25 18:23:43 +0000 UTCSo sad
Charlotte Masters
2022-10-25 15:52:45 +0000 UTCThis guy needed serious mental health treatment before this and needs it now (prisons here in the US will not give him that help) If he had received it before maybe it could have stopped this. The man should be in a hospital. But not only does the US not take mental health seriously enough, this also happened in a Southern Red State, mental health is the last thing on the minds of hardcore republicans which make up much of the police force and justice system there. Also, his parents just failed him completely. If his mother thinks calling the police to get him admitted for 9 days to have psychiatric evaluation that deemed him to have schizophrenia, get pills thrown at him and let him on his marry way was going to fix the problem, she is either ignorant or really didn’t seem to care. And for his father he certainly didn’t care when the law took his sons guns from him and he just gave them back, because in my opinion of the father he probably believes no one’s rights to bear arms should be taken away, that’s just unconstitutional in his eyes. This whole story makes me so sad because it could have been easily prevented if he had had the right support group around him years before this awful thing happened. This country needs to change, and I hope once our generation (im 34) and generations after mine will make these changes. Thanks for this story Mike. It was a really important one to shed light on
Elizabeth McDonald
2022-10-25 05:09:52 +0000 UTCMental health care is poorly handled in the US these days. There are very few options for long term care of people with psychiatric disorders. The medications have nasty side effects so of course once a person is feeling better they are not going to want to continue taking them. We need a new approach for this sort of illness.
Amy K Nezat
2022-10-25 00:58:20 +0000 UTCGreat video,Mike. Kinda torn on this. I think I lean more toward Travis needing to be in a hospital getting proper care than in prison. But I do definitely feel his parents, especially his father, should at the very least be charged with manslaughter. All the signs were clearly visible to them for years, and they did absolutely nothing. They're as responsible for this as Travis.
Kimberley McMahan
2022-10-24 23:03:21 +0000 UTCThank you Mike
Simeone Rita M D
2022-10-24 21:16:09 +0000 UTCWhat a very American case: cluelessness about/disregard for mental health + easy access to guns. What a senseless, easily preventable tragedy.
bansidheaz
2022-10-24 16:17:03 +0000 UTCListening to this guy's rantings gave me the chills. "My toilet seat is NEVER up! Why would someone do that???" I feel bad for him in a way, he should have gotten help LONG before he ever even bought a gun. So sad in so many ways.
Krysta Storer
2022-10-24 14:50:18 +0000 UTCThis makes me so mad... Does America realise that NOWHERE else in the world do people keep sh*tloads of weapons? It is just horrifying that the USA love guns so much.
Amanda Baby-Pie
2022-10-24 13:56:30 +0000 UTC.Really fine work here, Mike. Thank you. Although I am an active advocate for better mental health awareness in the United States, I have to say that, in my experience and observation, paranoid schizophrenics such as this asshole, tend to be mad when it comes to imposing their delusions on others.. but sane as hell, when it comes to preserving their own skins. And planning evil shite. I can see this with some authority, as when I was modeling at 17, somebody I dated briefly, who I will admit thought the FBI was talking to him on the radio and through his dental fillings, was sane and composed enough to follow me onto a cross country bus with a concealed weapon, after months of stalking. (Yes, I tried to get help- this was the early 2000s- the ops I went to laughed and said I “should be flattered.” ) Yup. Anyway, this guy’s Dad was a lawyer, and kept changing the court dates without telling us. Bad dads galore. So, I have a jaded outlook on this bastard. What I DO think, is that his father should get the same sentence his spawn, did. Thanks and cheers
Peri Lyons
2022-10-24 07:51:46 +0000 UTCThis wasn’t justice, it was revenge. Unless the judge was a qualified psychiatrist, they had no right to deem him competent to stand trial. My sister is severely mentally ill and refuses to take anti- psychotics. The truly mentally ill never realise that they are actually ill, they think it’s everyone else. Unfortunately, their right to decide what goes into their bodies currently exceeds the rights of doctors to forcibly medicate. Ultimately, we will continue to see this sort of thing until care for the mentally ill is vastly improved and properly funded. My guess is, on a cold calculation of the costs, most governments would prefer to take their chances on the occasional rampage. Got a cheek to then hold everybody but themselves accountable when things like this happen though…….
Lorna Mangan
2022-10-24 07:35:55 +0000 UTCSWIFTY gone mad.
Jojo
2022-10-24 07:26:04 +0000 UTCOops! Sorry, my video had stopped- didn’t realize this was addressed. Well done, Mike.
Michelle Kaylan
2022-10-24 06:47:04 +0000 UTCWas the father charged? Was he punished for his irresponsible, illegal, life-shattering choice?
Michelle Kaylan
2022-10-24 06:45:20 +0000 UTCAnother senseless tragedy. I am truly grateful for the mental healthcare that I have access to, unlike so many in this country. What a sad story this is.
Kasey B
2022-10-24 03:39:43 +0000 UTCThis is such a sad sad case for everyone involved (except Travis and his irresponsible father). It also angered the fuck out of me. I really cannot believe Travis’s father gave him the guns back. What in gods name was he thinking???? Or wasn’t he???!!!! He should be done for manslaughter. If it wasn’t for him, 4 innocent people would still be here. As for the guy who grabbed him. What bravery. I have so much respect for him. What Travis Rienking did was wrong but I hope he gets the help he so desperately needs.
Kerry
2022-10-24 02:59:51 +0000 UTCThanks Mike, love ya x
Krystle
2022-10-24 02:19:16 +0000 UTCLots of reasons, no excuse
Ellie
2022-10-24 02:00:20 +0000 UTCThanks Mike, as far as the dad's concerned he ignored the red flags that weren't just waving they were smacking him in the face ,
Eileen Fothergill
2022-10-24 01:19:21 +0000 UTCMental health care does not functionally exist in the US. While it is clear Travis was delusional, he did not take the meds he was given. Whether he should be in a hospital instead of jail I cannot tell. He clearly needed it before the shootings. His father just abdicated his parental role, and even could not be just a decent person. The father should be there with him.
Christine Faver
2022-10-23 23:22:03 +0000 UTCWell, I was going to write a long post, according to my revolt with this case, but I see that others have done that, and really exposed all its wrongs. I feel for the victims and their families, but I also pity Travis: his parents did EVERYTHING wrong, beginning with the homeschooling - wich I never agree on, but in this case even more: teachers, classmates and a school psychologist could have detected Travis' problems early and get him the help his parents never did. And what effing reaction is that, to call the police when they discovered his obsession with Taylor Swift, instead of driving him to a hospital? I don't know Nashville, but I'm certain it's a big enough city to have a mental facility... and his father owned a prosperous business, so it couldn't be about money... Mistake after mistake after mistake were committed, and as if it wasn't enough not providing him any help, the father CRIMINALLY returns an ASSAULT WEAPON to a clearly disturbed young man. His video is painful just to watch... Also, I'll never be able to understand the USA stance in guns. Period. I'm sorry, Mike, it ended being a very long post, after all. Take care, because we, too, love you.
Paula Bernardes-Silva
2022-10-23 23:08:42 +0000 UTCAnother great one Mike,. Thanks for all your hard work.
Capt. Rick Allen
2022-10-23 21:21:14 +0000 UTCOy, this was a tough one to hear. There was no real justice done in the Reinking case. Until his father is locked up as well there really won't be. As a parent I know it's difficult to see your son go through that but my God, giving him back a weapon of mass destruction is criminal and I sincerely hope that he gets a just punishment. Based on the state of mental healthcare in the US Travis is in the best possible place for now, but it's a bandaid on an open fracture. His family completely failed him.
Jennifer Hawthorne
2022-10-23 20:18:47 +0000 UTCMe too. I’m in Murfreesboro. I remember this case vividly.
Lisa Edelstein
2022-10-23 20:08:47 +0000 UTCThis made my blood boil. The US needs to get a fucking grip and sort out its priorities. Stop allowing citizens to carry assault rifles, it’s absolutely mental - more mental than this poor man - and leads to this exact situation. I genuinely don’t understand the collective insanity around guns. Don’t even start me off on the death penalty. Jesus wept.
Alex
2022-10-23 20:00:58 +0000 UTCI think, legally, Travis shouldn't have been considered competent to stand trial, or at least should have been given not-guilty by reason of insanity. However. Since he's prone to violence, he really does need a higher level of monitoring. Mental hospitals are absolutely atrocious, and it's likely he would be better off in a low-security prison, with regimented medicinal aid, and the ability to participate in day-passes, and visits. What he did is horrific, but I have a hard time saying he deserves no life when his brain malfunctioned, and he wasn't able to perceive reality. Travis's parents, however, should be in jail for *giving an obviously paranoid, violent, and threatening, mentally ill person weapons.* Seriously wtf?
Kay Smith
2022-10-23 19:58:03 +0000 UTCMental health needs to be taken more seriously. So many tragedies can be avoided. Stop ignoring the warning signs. Maybe mental health checks should be performed in schools, get kids talking and getting positive feedback. When you keep intrusive thoughts to yourself, they become a problem. And therein lies the problem, no one is really talking about positive mental health. I could go on all day but I won’t. I’m just sorry we all have to suffer
Sarah Wedel
2022-10-23 19:54:37 +0000 UTCAgree 100%. It seems like his parents didn't try to help him, and even sent him away so others had to deal with his issues. He should have been committed to an institution long ago.
B W J
2022-10-23 19:50:12 +0000 UTCthis story is so sad for everyone, except Travis's dad. I have represented paranoid schizophrenic and they are not in control of themselves without medication and psychiatric help. thank you ACLU for preventing involuntary commitment of the obviously insane, she said dripping with sarcasm.
cherry davis
2022-10-23 19:45:53 +0000 UTCI agree--we should have better places to house people like Travis. The old hospitals probably didn't do such a good job, but we have much better tools today. Travis should have gotten help; his parents were derelict for not putting him somewhere where he could get help and where he'd be safe and so would everyone else. As for his father, what is there to say? The man should NEVER have given weapons to his son. We have so many people in this country that are capable of doing exactly what Travis did. There is something dramatically wrong with a society where this sort of thing is allowed to flourish. Our rates of violence and murder are off the charts.
B W J
2022-10-23 19:42:31 +0000 UTCSplit personality perhaps?
Sarah Wedel
2022-10-23 19:31:56 +0000 UTCIncredibly tragic story. Everyone failed that guy and by therefore failed his victims. Thank goodness there was one hero who stepped up.
Lisa Bourgault
2022-10-23 19:01:48 +0000 UTCI actually feel somewhat sorry in a way for Travis, because everyone failed him, especially his parents. The blood of his victims is on their hands as well, especially on his father's hands. Good old dad should have been charged with being an accessory to murder, as far as I'm concerned.
Rutabaga64
2022-10-23 18:12:34 +0000 UTCThanks so much for covering this case. I lived only a few minutes away from this location in Nashville when this occurred and it definitely shook the community.
Grand Theft Dirigible
2022-10-23 17:55:45 +0000 UTCBring back mental hospitals. Most were closed in the 80’s and 90’s. The McNaughton Rule wins again.
Victoria Stickel
2022-10-23 17:28:42 +0000 UTCThank you so much Mike!
Marty_61
2022-10-23 17:12:56 +0000 UTCThanks Mike!
Steve Brown
2022-10-23 16:54:21 +0000 UTCThis is a hard one. S/O to the hero and my love to the victims. Now he def showed all signs of mental illness but I think his dad should get more than three years. I think he should go to a mental institution and his dad should be charged as a accomplice to first degree murder and do twenty years in jail.
Altisha Lewis
2022-10-23 16:53:15 +0000 UTCAgreed! His father deserves to pay a price for consciously ignoring what he clearly knew about his son. And where was mom?
Patti Restivo
2022-10-23 16:30:50 +0000 UTCvideo makes me sad and angry loads of feelings. I wonder now that Travis is on his meds, I hope… I wonder if in his balanced mind what he thinks about the totally horrid stuff he did. Ever think about interviewing any of these people? No idea how difficult that would be but in this case in particular I’d be very interested in how he sees things on meds. Through Taylor Swift colored glasses or…. Thanks for the videos and glad to support you via Patreon, you should consider different support tiers for those that are willing to give more, no special incentives needed. Stay well
Patti Restivo
2022-10-23 16:28:17 +0000 UTCHey Mike, my name is Patti and this here old
Patti Restivo
2022-10-23 16:23:51 +0000 UTCI know this story. I do believe his father should get jail time as well. Luv ya Mike! 😘
Melissa Gottlieb
2022-10-23 16:07:33 +0000 UTC"Swiftly" followed. Clever.
nichol murphy
2022-10-23 16:04:36 +0000 UTCExactly what I was thinking. The father should’ve known better than to give his very mentally ill son his guns back. I could throttle him.
Rose Tyler
2022-10-23 15:51:25 +0000 UTCI’m curious, did anyone file wrongful death suits against his parents or the cities that blew off his 911 calls? I’ll give to the city who took the first call that it was just a prank; but all of the following calls that were blown off. This is such a sad and evil act that could’ve been stopped so many times.
Carrie Swank
2022-10-23 15:50:36 +0000 UTCThank you for all you do! And Pops Reinking should do jail time. WTH was he thinking giving that gun to his mentally Ill son?😞 Side note…I’ll be in Nashville next week and don’t plan on visiting a Waffle House.
Christine Akey
2022-10-23 15:40:09 +0000 UTCYou're the best!! We don't deserve ya 🥰
Joysluv
2022-10-23 15:22:05 +0000 UTCYou're the best, Mike! ⚘️
Joy Burton
2022-10-23 15:19:39 +0000 UTCGreat way to start a Sunday morning or end a weekend depends on are u glass half empty or full kinda person???
Travis McIntyer
2022-10-23 15:19:31 +0000 UTCWhat a great way to round out a weekend
James Herington
2022-10-23 15:14:47 +0000 UTCJust what I need on a Sunday yay 😊
Becci
2022-10-23 15:07:15 +0000 UTCYay!!! Let’s dooooo it 😁 welcome back !
Caitlin Paige Brown
2022-10-23 15:03:24 +0000 UTCYay! This is exactly what my day needed
JL Mann
2022-10-23 15:01:40 +0000 UTC
