http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/17596903/ex-texas-standout-thomas-johnson-accused-killing-man-dallas

Didn't see it posed yet. Such a sad story....

Ugh. Horrible from every aspect.

Incredibly tough read...

Maybe another family struggling with a similar problem will see this and it will help. Just have to believe that something positive can come out of this unfortunate situation.

Sad deal

Hindsight is 20/20 and I know the Aggie Football program takes care of its own but hopefully the entire athletic staff at A&M will be better prepared should something like this happen again.

Lots of things going on in that story but the two that standout the most are the rape allegations following the Alabama football game and the use of synthetic marijuana.
I hope that the University looked into the allegations and that they were just allegations.
The synthetic marijuana issue might be the key factor in TJ's mental health crisis. Depending on what and how he used those chemicals it could have had a huge impact on his mental faculties.
Thoughts and prayers for all involved

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The synthetic marijuana issue might be the key factor in TJ's mental health crisis. Depending on what and how he used those chemicals it could have had a huge impact on his mental faculties.

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This for sure. So sad on multiple fronts.

Such a sad story. Stories like this make you realize how fragile life can be.

first I've heard of the rape allegations. What an incredibly unbelievable story.

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I hope that the University looked into the allegations and that they were just allegations.

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How is the university going to look into allegations when essentially all the people involved in the story are gone? Many are in different states now. It would require a greater power than the university.

The rape story makes zero sense. Ramblings of a mentally ill man.

The synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, seems like a 100% true story. There is no way a university can stop players from doing illegal drugs. Way too readily available in EVERY college town.

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first I've heard of the rape allegations. What an incredibly unbelievable story.

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Yea, that is tough to read. Even leaving out the dad's version of the story, it really seems like the mom was in denial that Thomas needed medical help. I can understand how she got so protective and somewhat isolated given the # of people trying to influence her son, but damn.

The story angers me. The lack of accountability from the parents and guardians is astounding. No doubt that our society isn't built to handle mentally ill people effectively.

However, the ingredients to the disaster that happened are pointing the finger to black magic, our legal system and an after game celebration. What a joke. Most likely, the guardians of Thomas mishandled him and were not fit to be parents or guardians. That's the issue that needs to be addressed first and foremost. (And I'm referring to the first 18 years that created the monster and not the last 5 years where our societal structure couldn't deal with the monster).

Terrible story.

How long before we get a Baylor fan or the DMN equating that single line from this story to the current Baylor case and start making a mountain out of that small line?

That mom sounds craaaazy.

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That mom sounds craaaazy.

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I don't think she was the crazy one...

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That mom sounds craaaazy.

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I don't think she was the crazy one...

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Think again. Read between the lines.

I think she had a lot to deal with between raising him, trying to do what's best for him, and feeling like everyone was trying to take advantage of her son. I'd say she doesn't have a good grasp on what mental illness is or does, but that hardly makes her unique. And she might have some mental health issues of her own that she's managed, and was trying to get Thomas to follow her path to resolving them.

I feel there's just a lot more going on than assuming she was a crazy person who enabled her son to murder.

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I think she had a lot to deal with between raising him, trying to do what's best for him, and feeling like everyone was trying to take advantage of her son. I'd say she doesn't have a good grasp on what mental illness is or does, but that hardly makes her unique. And she might have some mental health issues of her own that she's managed, and was trying to get Thomas to follow her path to resolving them.

I feel there's just a lot more going on than assuming she was a crazy person who enabled her son to murder.

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There is definitely more going on. My assumption is not just simply she is crazy. The assumption is his upbringing was crazy and very unstable. Yet, it must have been black magic, marijuana and a party that did it.....oh and I forgot....the legal system.

Again, let's not focus on the first 18 years of his life...lets deflect it on the last few years.

Fair enough.

He's very angry, cursing,, he stormed out of the house taking a large knife with him, and her response is to close herself in a closet with a Bible and pray...? She should have at least informed the police that her schizophrenic son was on loose with a knife.

What's crazy is that's 24 hours before the murder, and it sounds like ("knife" versus "machete") it's not even the same weapon.

What else did he do in that full day?

That just makes me sick to my stomach.

His mom wouldn't allow him to get help in both the situation with the uncle and the Stephensons.

Such a hard read. I cant believe they weren't able to get him help early on with so many warning signs. Wow. I wonder if that synthetic stuff was to blame?

Sad, horrible tragedy all the way around.

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I hope that the University looked into the allegations and that they were just allegations.

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How is the university going to look into allegations when essentially all the people involved in the story are gone? Many are in different states now. It would require a greater power than the university.

The rape story makes zero sense. Ramblings of a mentally ill man.

The synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, seems like a 100% true story. There is no way a university can stop players from doing illegal drugs. Way too readily available in EVERY college town.

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Synthetic marijuana is not illegal, he probably purchased it at a store.

For the record, it can make people go nuts for a brief period of time.

Such a bizarre story.

Wasn't the florida face eater on K2? My gf says her cousin was really brain fried when on it

OTL is on right now on ESPN and after commercial they are discussing this story.

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Synthetic marijuana is not illegal, he probably purchased it at a store.

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In my response to the other poster I was trying to get the point across that you can't stop players from using drugs, legal or illegal. Too easily available. No way to monitor them 24/7. Every team in this country has players using some drug.

I spent a year working in juvenile drug court. Several kids had psychotic breaks from spice use.

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I hope that the University looked into the allegations and that they were just allegations.

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How is the university going to look into allegations when essentially all the people involved in the story are gone? Many are in different states now. It would require a greater power than the university.

The rape story makes zero sense. Ramblings of a mentally ill man.

The synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, seems like a 100% true story. There is no way a university can stop players from doing illegal drugs. Way too readily available in EVERY college town.

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Synthetic marijuana is not illegal, he probably purchased it at a store.

For the record, it can make people go nuts for a brief period of time.

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Yes, it is. And, yes, it does. It can also kill you.

UGH what an awful story. That was definitely hard to read. Horrible for all involved.

Synthetic MJ led to some strange & gruesome murders in the DC area including a guy getting knifed repeatedly on a metro platform not so long ago. Just legalize the real stuff already!