Parents worldwide know the risks and fear that come with allowing their child to venture out into the world, but schools are supposed to offer parents a greater sense of security and a lot of parents feel very few worries about their children heading to school each morning. However, in 2004, a shocking murder instilled fear in parents across the world and led to many questioning: “Is my child really safe in school?” as well as: “Does my child really know their best friend?”

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Audio Sources:

“The Murder of Jaime Gough”

Sources:

Sun Sentinel, 4 February, 2004 – “Teen Slain at Middle School”

The Miami Herald, 4 February, 2004 – “Slain Student Called Shy, Polite”

The Miami Herald, 4 February, 2004 – “Boy Killed at School”

Sun Sentinel, 5 February, 2004 – “Tears for Jaime”

Sun Sentinel, 5 February, 2004 – “Parents, Students Angry After School Killing”

Sun Sentinel, 6 February, 2004 – “Slain Boy’s Parents Thank Supporters”

The Miami Herald, 5 February, 2004 – “Boy Admits Stabbing His Friend to Death”

The Miami Herald, 6 February, 2004 – “Slain Boy’s Parents Proudly Recall His Awards”

EFE News, 7 February, 2004 – “US-Family Killing”

Sun Sentinel, 8 February, 2004 – “Child Advocates Call for Flexible Justice System”

Sun Sentinel, 11 February, 2004 – “Crowds Say Goodbye”

The Miami Herald, 20 February, 2004 – “Students Sought Another Victim, Authorities Say”

The Miami Herald, 25 February, 2004 – “Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Murder”

Sun Sentinel, 3 March, 2004 – “Attorney Hired for Boy Charged with Murder”

Associated Press, 16 March, 2004 – “Lawyer Asks Judge to Block Public from Hearings”

Sun Sentinel, 20 March, 2004 – “A Fixation With Cults And Murder”

The Miami Herald, 26 March, 2004 – “Youth’s Hit List Included Sister, Boy, 13”

Associated Press, 9 April, 2004 – “Medical Examiner’s Report Shows Fla. Student Was Stabbed at Least 40 Times”

The Miami Herald, 14 April, 2004 – “Doctors to Check Accused Killer, 14”

The Miami Herald, 24 April, 2004 – “Teen Obsessed with Death, Files Show”

Sun Sentinel, 11 May, 2004 – “Judge Refuses to Dismiss Murder Trial of Boy, 14”

The Miami Herald, 12 May, 2004 – “Parents: Our Son is not a Monster”

The Miami Herald, 13 May, 2004 – “Suspect’s Parents Thought of Therapy”

Tampa Bay Times, 30 May, 2004 – “Suspect’s Parents Only saw Quirks Before Slaying”

The Miami Herald, 12 June, 2004 – “In Diary, Teen Talks Goals, Virtue, School”

The Miami Herald, 17 June, 2004 – “Boy Competent to Stand Trial”

The Miami Herald, 3 August, 2004 – “Teen Murder Defendant is Charged in Second Plot”

The Miami Herald, 21 August, 2004 – “Defense Requests Aid in Teen’s Murder Case”

The Miami Herald, 9 December, 2004 – “Teen, 14, Faces Trial as Adult in Slaying”

The Miami Herald, 4 February, 2005 – “Touching Tribute to Slain Student”

Sun Sentinel, 10 May, 2005 – “Taxpayers to Pay Teen’s Defense”

Sun Sentinel, 17 August, 2005 – “Judge Weighs Access to Victim’s PC”

The Miami Herald, 11 April, 2007 – “Teen Told Police How He Stabbed Friend”

Associated Press, 27 May, 2008 – “Fla. Teen Rejects Plea Offer”

Associated Press, 11 September, 2008 – “Violent Obsession Behind Fla. Boy’s Murder”

The Miami Herald, 11 September, 2008 – “Witnesses Describe Death Scene in Michael Hernandez Case”

Associated Press, 16 September, 2008 – “Classmate Testifies in Middle School Slaying Trial”

The Miami Herald, 16 September, 2008 – “I Proceeded to Slit His Throat”

Associated Press, 18 September, 2008 – “Fla. Father Testifies at Son’s Murder Trial”

The Miami Herald, 19 September, 2008 – “Parents: Son is Insane”

The Miami Herald, 20 September, 2008 – “Michael Hernandez Trial”

The Miami Herald, 23 September, 2008 – “Michael Hernandez isn’t Insane”

The Ledger, 24 September, 2008 – “Teen Found Guilty in Classmate Slaying”

The Miami Herald, 24 September, 2008 – “Miami Teenager Michael Hernandez Found Guilty”

Press-Register, 8 November, 2008 – “Florida Teen Gets Life Sentence”

Associated Press, 4 February, 2016 – “Convicted Child Killer Apologizes”