In the year 2007, an incident unfolded in Elyria that shook the community and left a lasting mark on the lives of those involved.
It was a tragic tale of a young man named Daniel Petric and the violent video game that would ultimately lead to the demise of his mother and forever change the lives of his family.
At the heart of the matter was the game that had captured Daniel’s obsession: Halo 3.
Prosecutors in Daniel’s murder trial recounted the events that transpired, painting a picture of a family torn apart by a clash of values and a young man’s desperate desire to play the game.
Sneaked out
In September 2007, Daniel, then just 16 years old, defied his father’s wishes and sneaked out of his bedroom window to purchase a copy of Halo 3 from a store.
Upon his return home, his parents discovered him with the game and confiscated it.
Daniel’s father, Mark, who was a minister at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, decided to secure the game in a lockbox within a closet.
Unbeknownst to him, that same lockbox also housed a 9mm handgun.
Gained access to the lockbox
Around a month later, on October 20, 2007, Daniel managed to gain access to the lockbox using his father’s key.
In a chilling turn of events, he retrieved both the gun and the game.
The tragedy unfolded when Daniel shot his parents, with his mother losing her life and his father suffering grave injuries.
In a disturbing twist, Daniel attempted to place the gun in his wounded father’s hand before fleeing the scene, taking the Halo 3 game with him.
The Trial
During the trial, Mark Petric, with tears in his eyes, recounted the horrific moment when his son approached him as he sat on the couch.
Daniel asked them to close their eyes, promising a surprise.
Little did Mark know that this would be a surprise of the most sinister kind.
As he closed his eyes, he felt a numbness spreading through his head, only to realize that his wife, Susan Petric, lay lifeless nearby, having been shot multiple times.
Daniel callously placed the gun in his father’s hand, uttering the chilling words, “Hey Dad, here’s your gun.
Take it.” Mark, broken and shattered, believed he owed his survival to the arrival of his daughter and her husband, who had come over to watch a baseball game.
When they attempted to enter the house, Daniel blocked their path, claiming there had been a heated argument between their parents.
Truth unfolds
With the arrival of his daughter and son-in-law, the truth began to unfold.
They heard moans from inside the house, possibly their names being groaned, and pushed their way in.
What they discovered was a scene of unimaginable horror: Mark Petric wounded and his wife tragically slain.
In his impaired state, Mark managed to communicate that it was his own son who had shot him, while Daniel shamelessly tried to shift the blame onto his father.
The Archer family, Daniel’s sister, and her husband, swiftly dialed emergency services, and it was then that they noticed Daniel had picked up the handgun that had been lying on the couch.
Andrew Archer managed to disarm the boy without resistance, and Daniel fled the house in the family van.
His escape, however, was short-lived, as the Wellington police apprehended him shortly afterward, the Halo 3 game still resting on the front seat.
Little Emotion
Throughout the trial, Daniel exhibited little emotion, except for a brief moment when his mother’s autopsy photos were displayed on a large screen.
He bowed his head and fixated on his hands for nearly 20 minutes, unable to face the gruesome reality presented before him.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mark Petric, a broken man, visited his son in jail over the course of the following year.
Despite the pain and heartache, Mark revealed that his son had expressed remorse and offered an apology.
According to Mark, Daniel said, “Dad, I’m so sorry for what I did to Mom, to you, and to the family. I’m so glad you are alive.”
You are my son
In a display of unconditional love, Mark responded to his son, reaffirming their bond by saying, “You’re my son. You’re my boy.”
He acknowledged the close relationship between Susan, his wife, and Daniel, emphasizing that Daniel had always been her little boy.
In a surprising turn of events, Daniel’s sister, Heidi Archer, testified that the family had forgiven her brother and longed for his return home.
They believed that true healing could only occur when they were all together as a family, united in forgiveness and love.
Why did he do it?
During the trial, Daniel’s lawyer, James Kersey, presented a brief opening statement, shedding light on the circumstances that may have contributed to Daniel’s actions.
Kersey explained that Daniel had been under immense stress due to a snowboarding accident he had suffered earlier, which resulted in a severe staph infection.
This infection had caused significant spinal damage, leaving Daniel vulnerable to paralysis from even the slightest injury.
As a result of his injuries, Daniel was confined to his home for a year, with limited activities beyond watching television and playing video games.
It was during this period of isolation that his fascination with the Halo series grew, as he spent countless hours engrossed in the games during visits to friends’ houses.
However, Daniel’s father strictly prohibited him from playing these games, citing their violent and explicit content.
Conclusion
The trial shed light on a deeply tragic event that occurred in 2007, involving a family torn apart by a clash of values and a young man’s overwhelming desire to engage in a violent video game.
While the details of the case were disturbing, they also revealed the complexities of family dynamics and the enduring power of forgiveness.
The impact of this event would leave an indelible mark on the lives of all involved, forever reminding us of the consequences that can arise from unchecked obsessions and the importance of understanding and empathy within families.
What’s the latest update on the case?
In a recent development, disbarred Florida attorney Jack Thompson has taken up the cause of Daniel Petric, the individual responsible for the tragic killing of his own mother and the near-fatal injury inflicted upon his father in 2007.
Thompson, known for his long-standing crusade against violent video games, has dedicated himself to seeking a new trial or, at the very least, a reconsideration of Petric’s sentencing.
Thompson asserts that substantial evidence has emerged over the years, warranting a fresh examination of Petric’s case in front of a jury.
Central to his argument is the claim that Petric’s actions on that fateful night of October 20, 2007, were driven by an addiction to the video game “Halo 3.”
The attorney has long criticized violent video games, often referring to them as “murder simulators.”
Now, armed with what he believes to be a growing body of evidence, Thompson seeks to present a compelling case for Petric’s reevaluation, emphasizing the role of video game addiction in the deadly rampage.
