We have to put a stop to the lame excuse of alcohol or drugs being to blame for our actions. It is not an accident that people drink or use drugs. We choose our actions, not our consequences. The possible consequences to drinking or drugs is death, so if you can live with the consequences, enjoy! But regardless of what happens, judge and jury should hold you responsible for your actions, regardless of how you got there.

A testimony to the destructive harm that alcohol and drugs have on our children. Heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to the parents of the young girl.

It is becoming quite common for crimes to be attributed to someone or something other than the actual criminal.

This case is a perfect example. Blame it on the FLDS, and for those in which that spin doesn't work with, blame it on drugs and alcohol.

Seems to work well in the media, but luckily the courts do not fall for it.

milehighguy, my thoughts exactly. He chose to drink and take drugs, therefore he is responsible for what happened as a result of his own choices.

Actions have consequences. Unfortunately, it seems society today is determined to remove consequences so that people can do whatever they want and never have to face any negative results. And it seems lately that killing another person is okay, as long as you can either blame someone or something else, or if you had a good reason. "It was the drugs I was on, THEY caused this," or, "I was just so mad because she was cheating on me with him."

Oh, okay, that makes it all better.

NOT!

do the crime - do the time. Personally I think if you kill someone purposely in cold blood you should get life without parole. (I'm only against the death penalty because it costs more to defend against appeals than it does to simply lock someone away for life.)

This has absolutely nothing to do with FLDS, so it's unclear to me why they would even put that into the equation. Granted, FLDS teach all kinds of strange ideas, and kids don't get a very good outlook on life, but once you get out, you have to get your mind straight. Not rocket science, and probably easier said than done. But doable, and no excuse for breaking laws.

Religion is a poor excuse for lots of things (isolation, repression, etc) but it is in exceedingly bad taste to try to blame murder on a religion (assuming it is not committed for the religion).

This is not an FLDS issue. They have plenty of issues as it is - let's try not to add to them.

How sad this story is. You have a young man who has had a rough time trying to survive a very difficult childhood and who turns to drugs and alcohol - like so many of the "lost boys" do. Then you have a sweet young girl whose life is stolen from her before she really even gets a chance to live. Two lives that once held all kinds of promises and adventures ahead of them - that now will not come to pass. I feel so sorry for BOTH of these young people. It is just so sad that we don't see the cause and effect of the choices we make before we make them. It's such a waste.......

Speaking of FLDS issues...Throughout the story, the boy is referred to by his last name, Dutson. Except when he is observed "chanting" by the body, then he is referred to by his middle name, JEFFS.

Is this a freudian slip, or what?

Agree that this is a sad waste of potential all around. But "A", why label the girl as a sweet young girl. she was his girlfriend for two years, so she knew what kind of a person he was. They were partying together, so she made choices, with tragic and unfortunate unconsequences. Choose your friends wisely and avoid situations where drugs, alcohol, and firearms are present. The mix could be harmful to your health.

Warren Jeffs didn't pull the trigger or force Dutson to take drugs and drink, not directly. But he and his ilk bear almost as much responsibility for this crime as Dutson for the type of upbringing they gave Dutson. "Women are possessions and part of your kingdom." They both need to be put away for a looooooong time.

"Choices" - Let me be more specific for you. The point I was making is that at 15 years old, she had her whole life ahead of her. And, not being a whole lot older than she, he did too. It sounds like YOU are the one doing the labeling. They were BOTH very young (basically at the beginning of their whole life), and choices they BOTH made had horrible consequences. And, as I said earlier - it is just sad.

Young girl had whole life ahead of her. This guy needs to responsabilty for his actions. Hope he gets the death penalty.

Being raised in the environment Dutson was, and being kicked out for what - not enough women to go around? - is his defense going to be just that, and that he was raised in an environment that women were just possessions and the answer "NO" was never uttered, thus he had a right to do what he did?

Just curious.

Mushrooms doesn't make you think you can fly, or kill people for that matter. That crazy stuff comes from the person.

I was close to this case and I just want you all to know that the MEDIA made the FLDS thing part of the trial. It was NOT part of the trial, FYI. I was a little surprised that it was left out on the prosecution side and on the defense side. I am very sad for this young man. He is just that, young and so was his girlfriend. The jury absolutely made the right decision- I know they did, but it wasn't easy and is so very sad. I only hope that others can learn from seeing the tragedy that drugs and violence can bring. I also hope that Parley Dutson can have an opportunity to change during his many years of encarceration. It is a sad tragedy.

FLDS, Mormon, Jew , what have you, bitterness and the hatred of one group against another, once again sells newspapers, raises television ratings, continues the destructive forces that consume so much good in our society of "free press"
Free press does not exist in this country when it is full of inuendos, elevates a journalists career or elevates one group or religion above another. The really sad thing is that the mormon culture has taken upoun itself the same kind of journalism and support it by buying the newspapers and advertising on the radio and television stations, that drove their forefathers across the plains under extreme hardship, death and privation , and if it continues this bigoted biased representation of any goup who does not believe as they do will once again bring this kind of ugliness as the wings of prejudice or evil always return home to roost eventually.
As long as we push the blame off on anything or anybody, other than the responsible party these kinds of crimes will flourish and destroy many more lifes.

I guess the FLDS were right about this nut.