Father of alleged stabber speaks out
The family of Kenton Astin, the former UMC employee arrested Monday on suspicion of cutting the throat of a freshman student and then stabbing himself multiple times, said Astin has a history of mental illness.
Family members were stunned to learn what had happened, said Don Buckley, Astin’s father.
Astin, who was born Jerry Buckley, but has changed his name several times, was diagnosed with schizophrenia about six years ago.
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CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said Astin, 39, of 19th Street in Boulder, ran up to the UMC terrace around 9:40 a.m. Monday, where he brandished what witnesses said looked like a steak knife. He allegedly cut freshman Michael Knorps’ throat before stabbing himself in the chest.
Astin’s vehicle was parked outside of the UMC. Hilliard said the bomb squad cleared the vehicle and no bomb-making equipment was found inside. The vehicle was towed around 11:30 a.m.
Buckley reminisced about Astin’s childhood this afternoon.
“There was no history of schizophrenia in the family,” Buckley said. “He always did well in grade school. He learned quickly. He always won the spelling bees; out of the 54 students together he would win the spelling bee. But otherwise, we didn’t know he had it until it came out about six years ago. He was having some severe problems when we found out about it.”
Those severe problems are a reference to Astin’s criminal record – particularly an incident in March 2001 that resulted in charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault, felony menacing and possession of a controlled substance. Astin was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all charges, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigations records.
View Astin’s full criminal history here.
Astin, at the time a 33-year-old transient, told police in March 2001 that he walked into the Salvation Army store and saw a barefoot man who had both of his ears pierced and a tattoo on his right leg, the Boulder Camera reports.
Police said Astin didn’t like the way the man looked so he took a knife out of his bag and tried stabbing him in the chest.
The victim, Dylan Trembley, received cuts on his right hand and the back of one of his ankles. He also had some swelling on his left cheek, the Camera reports.
After the incident, Astin began treatment at the Colorado state mental hospital in Pueblo, according to an e-mail sent to CU students from Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson.
“(Astin) has been in rehabilitation and treatment locally, under close supervision, since his release more than two years ago and until this morning’s incident had never demonstrated any aggressive behavior,” the e-mail reads.
Carlos Garcia, director of the UMC, confirmed Monday afternoon that Astin was a former employee of the UMC. Garcia said the man worked as a cashier in the Alferd Packer Grill about five months ago, and that he was quiet and did his job well.
Astin was hired for a 6-month temporary job through the Chinook Clubhouse, a Boulder agency that helps transition mentally ill individuals into the workforce, and left after that term was over.
“His temporary employment with the University was a part of his return to being a productive member of the community,” Peterson’s e-mail says. “We have no reason to believe that his prior employment was related in any way to today’s attack.”
Garcia said he was not informed of Astin’s criminal history by the Chinook Clubhouse.
“We don’t screen all of our employees. It depends entirely on the sensitivity of the work they will be doing,” Garcia said. “Security? Yes. Driving? Yes. Busing tables? No.”
The university has worked with the Clubhouse for 17 years, Garcia said, and there has never been a problem in the past.
Records show Astin previously used several aliases, including the name Dylan Klebold, one of the shooters at Columbine High School in April 1999. One student who saw Monday morning’s incident said Astin was yelling about Columbine.
Buckley did not reveal any additional information about his son.
“I don’t want to talk about it too much more,” he said. “It came as a real shock to the family.”
Roommates at Astin’s home on 19th Street said it is a residence for the mentally ill.
Astin’s roommate Pete Boger, 59, said Astin drives a gray Jeep.
“He’s a straight arrow, he’s never done anything bizarre,” Boger said. “He’s pretty busy . He keeps his head above water.”
Astin’s bedroom within the home was sparsely furnished with a single twin bed and dresser. Also inside was stereo equipment, an electronic keyboard and a portable CD player.
Contact Campus Press editor Brandon Springer at brandon.springer@thecampuspress.com.
