Doctors say Jeffrey Young is textbook case of schizophrenia

Almost every doctor or psychologist who has examined Jeff Young say his is a classic case of schizophrenia.

With genetic roots, Young’s own first cousin is diagnosed schizophrenic in Ohio, the disease first appears in the early 20s.

In his high school and late teen years, Young was an Eagle Scout, most valuable teammate on his swim team at Patrick Henry high school, and a part-time model.

In his third semester at Queens College in Charlotte, Young had what psychiatrists often refer to as his “first break.“

Depressed and not sleeping well, Young became reclusive, stopped showering, and stopped going to class, his mother Roberta, told the Floyd County jury that would go on to convict her son later in the week.

Later on his 21st birthday in 1998, Young had a severe car accident, his mother said.

Flown by helicopter to Carilion Roanoke Memorial, Young fought for days to stay alive, and ended up losing his gall bladder.

Roberta Young told the jury that was also when she began losing her son.

What would follow would be six trips to mental hospitals in two different states over the next decade.

In 2003, Young had his first real run-in with the law, police in Marietta, Georgia.

Visiting, and perhaps living, in Marietta with friends, the police report states Young had not been seen for several days.

Then on June 30, 2003, Young ended up at a then 55-year-old Marietta’s woman’s home, demanding the woman look him in the eye.

The report reads, when the woman refused, Young started choking her.

The woman’s son interrupted the attack and Young ran out of the home.

When later cornered by two police officers, the report states Young began “preaching” on the street, telling officers his name was Jesus Christ.

The report notes Young as being “resistive” to officers.

The officers arrested Young and took him for an evaluation at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.

The report states Young met with mental health staff and was admitted.

The episode resulted in, until this week, Young’s only blemish on his arrest record, a conviction for criminal trespass.

Less than one year later, on June 17, 2004, a state trooper wrote Roberta Young a ticket for reckless driving.

After an argument with her son that day, Roberta tried to leave.

Jeff Young jumped on the hood of her car and refused to let go.

Roberta Young drove all the way down Bent Mountain with her son on the hood of her car before the trooper stopped her.

In 2007, Young met several Floyd County deputies after choking his mother, and later pouring gasoline on her bed.

Roanoke County investigators are so sure Young was responsible for the hit and run death of Tom Farrell on January 28, 2008, despite his acquittal four months ago, they closed the case file.

The Floyd parking lot attack at Slaughter’s Supermarket happened on January 30, 2008.

Young has been in jail ever since.

A member of the juror which convicted Young on Thursday for the crimes in the Floyd County attack said all twelve agreed the system had failed Young.

He should have been required to get help much earlier, the jury thought.

But psychiatrists say, given our constitutional rights and the fact Young is over 18, the law can’t require him to do anything except be incarcerated or hospitalized if he’s deemed a threat to himself or others.

Schizophrenics like Young often have no idea they are that sick, said local psychiatrist, Dr. Conrad Daum.

Young is also refusing treatment and medication at the New River Valley Regional Jail.

Daum said schizophrenics who refuse medication and treatment are also obviously harder to control.