The First Sin of Ross Michael Carlson Hardcover – June 1, 1992

This author gives insight into the brutality, premeditation, murder and MPD defense that clogged the system.I knew Ross Carlson and I never believed in the MPD . I spent a lot of time with him prior this horrible crime. Ross never seemed out of sort and most definitely not different personalities that he named.Ross was convincing , a good actor but more then that he was a great director as he looked at life behind a camera lens never connecting emotions or reality making him dangerous.Unfortunately his friends, parents , therapist could not detect anything alarming or possibly his parents did and this made his timing more urgent.

This was an excellent book, and a very fast read. I had a class with Ross at Metro. He was very articulate, good looking, and friendly. Seeing his face flash on the TV screen for murdering his parents was a total shock. I had always wondered what happened that caused him to do this. Reading the book gave me a deeper insight into the mind of Ross Carlson. The book was informative regarding the presumed diagnosis, as well as easy to follow in regards to the exhausting legal process. Mr. Weissberg gave a fair account and did an excellent job in remaining impartial despite this case consuming his life for a very long time. I highly recommend this book.

Book had me involved deep. I don't normally care for this type of book but this one I really liked. Sad that it is a true story but this author really told it well.

Excuse me for not giving my name but you will understand after reading this review. You see, the reason I'm not using my name is because I was Ross Carlson's friend and was with him the evening he killed his parents. There where two of us with Ross that night. I met them at the Canterbury Inn but had a date and didn't want to go to the movies with them. Ross was very angry with me due to this. He became angry with me so I left. I now know why he became so angry. He was using us as his alibi. Our other friend went with Ross to the theater. Unfortunately, he was fist implicated with Ross for this crime. Thank god, he was later exonerated but this did great harm to his personal and professional life. While Ross was at the hospital, prior to his arrest, my family was making plans for him to stay with us. After his arrest, my family was informed of the details of his crime. We finally realized he was guilty.Ross was always a different person. I never believe in the multiple personalities theory. Ross liked money and was always looking for the fast and easy score. To this day, I believe that was his motive. What a shame.The Carlson's where great people who loved their son and didn't deserve to have this happen to them. I talked to Mrs. Carlson the day before her death and I still remember how pleasant she always was to Ross's friends. What a damn shame.I left for the military that same year. I never spoke to Ross again and never wanted to. He brought so much hurt and pain to all involved. His actions changed everyone after this. The friends we use to run with no longer talked to each other and we all went in different directions.After the military, I became a law enforcement officer. Now retired, I own a private investigation business. I can honestly say, this incident played a part in my career choice. The book is very factual and doctor who wrote it (in my opinion) did the Carlson's justice.

I was a deputy sheriff in Arapahoe County, Colorado, first when Carlson, as a juvenile tried to purchase explosives to blow up his parents, and then when he later executed them. I was never directly involved in the case but followed it closely through news accounts and the little I heard from other deputies.I first read this book when it was published and now I am reading it again. The US Supreme Court recently ruled that it was "cruel and unusual punishment" for a juvenile to receive life without parole. Made me wonder what should be done with those seemingly without a conscience, those born a "bad seed."This well-written book helped tie up a lot of loose ends. He was "innocent until proven guilty", so he received and used his parent's life insurance proceeds to pay for his defense. (That was not "justice.")Is there anyone who fits the definition of "bad seed?" Yes, it was Ross Michael Carlson.

There is no such thing as MPD, but it certainly was a fad in the 1980s, after a few imaginative sorts came up with yet another way to escape punishment for their crimes.Ross Michael Carlson did kill his parents. As one of the policemen said, they thought that it was a case of religious toxicity. Poor kid, how he suffered.

If you are interested in forensic psychiatry, this is an excellent book with which to begin.It is also a sad story of how religious mania destroyed a young man and destroyed the lives of his parents.