For Outfit readers who have been following the case, this week Channel 5 in Chicago ran parts of an interview with Hans Peterson's father, Dr. Thomas Peterson, which was taped for an upcoming edition of Dateline NBC:
"There are multiple victims and multiple villains. I feel that one of the victims is Dr. Cornbleet and one of the villains is Dr. Cornbleet. One of the victims is Hans Peterson and one of the villains is Hans Peterson."
Here is part two of the NBC interview which explores the Accutane angle in slightly more depth and includes a response from the victim's son, Jon Cornbleet.
Chicago's ABC affiliate (WLS, Channel 7) also ran an interview with Dr. Peterson. That piece includes a statement from Dr. Douglas Bremner, the Director of the Emory University Clinical Neuroscience Research Institute, who performed a brain imaging study a few years back that claims to show that Accutane has an effect on the orbitofrontal cortex.
If you're confused by the conflicting scientific claims made about the risks of Accutane (also known as Isotretinoin), here is a good explanation of why you're confused, referencing Bremner's study, a more recent study which shows no link between the drug and depression, and another that calls for more studies. If I understand it correctly, Bremner's study showed how Accutane might be linked to depression, but it did not actually show a cause-and-effect relationship:
Dr. Bremner explains that to invoke depression, isotretinoin must influence the brain. During the investigation, brain function of the subjects was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) before and after four months of treatment with isotretinoin. Isotretinoin treatment was associated with decreased brain metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex- the area of the brain known to mediate symptoms of depression. Yet, there were no differences in severity of depressive symptoms between the isotretinoin and antibiotic treatment groups before or after treatment.
The local CBS station (WBBM, Channel 2), includes some quotes from an interview with Dr. Peterson on its web site, but has no video.
UPDATE: The local papers all have updates on the anniversary of Dr. Cornbleet's murder.
51 comments:
Another interview was also done by Paul Meincke for WLS-TV. It will also be airing tonight at 10 pm.
Having been involved in both interviews, I would recommend that you watch Meincke's. He was truly trying to get the facts and report them in a balanced manner.
That was not the feeling that I got with NBC.
p.s.
Meincke has also done a live interview with J Douglas Bremner M.D., a psychiatrist and radiologist from Emory University Medical School in Atlanta. Dr. Bremner has documented changes in the emotional brain induced by Accutane on Functional MRI scans.
"Doctor" Peterson, do you even realize that the comments you made on last night's WMAQ piece made you sound like a complete horse's ass? How dare you call Dr. Cornbleet a victim! No doubt your son neglected to tell Dr. Cornbleet he was mentally unstable (wonder if the apple didn't fall far from the tree in that regard), because Dr. Cornbleet always asked his patients what type of medications they were on, and whether or not the patient had psychological issues such as depression. He was an excellent doctor, and that's because he learned from the best in his field - his father, Dr. Theodore Cornbleet who was world reknowned -- In fact most residents are required to study Dr. Theodore Cornbleet and the vast work he contributed to the field of dermatology. Can the same be said of you "doctor" Peterson? On that note, are you even a real doctor? Your lame excuse to try to blame your son's horrific crime on Dr. David Cornbleet and Accutane is laughable. We all know you're aiming for a "mentally instable" plea for your son, but the fact is that your son carefully plotted and planned this murder for years. While I too, agree that your son is a nut job, he was of sane enough mind to plan everything to the detail. He had many hours to re-think the hideous crime he was about to commit while on that long drive from New York to Chicago, and he did not turn his car around and return to New York. That, "doctor" Peterson is the action of a cold-blooded, calculated murderer. Even if those of us don't believe he'll ever truly pay for taking another man's life, believe me -- Hans will have the rest of eternity to re-live his crime while he's rotting in hell with the rest of his ilk.
-- SJC
Does Accutane Peterson realize that he was the most laughed at person today? Everybody in my office was laughing at how stupid he looks and sounds. The apple certainly does not fall far from the tree.
Yes, I did say that Dr. Cornbleet was a victim. Do you really disagree with that?
Dr. Cornbleet was also a villain because he wrongfully prescribed Accutane for Hans.
Once you learn to understand that fact you will learn that this was a tragedy with multiple victims and multiple villains.
p.s.
Jon, How can you laugh at this tragedy? What do you find humorous about it?
You know "doctor" Peterson, it seems to me that you don't really read the comments here. It's as if you have a publicist telling you to constantly hammer home your tired old mantra: the doctor and drug made my son do it.
And as many people have stated, including reporter Stafford from last night, you don't appear to show any sympathy at all for the Cornbleet family.
We all know your boring story -- that Dr. Cornbleet "wrongfully prescribed" Hans the Accutane. Beyond the fact that that's an outrageous lie, do you really think that hanging your hat on the "Accutane" defense is going to help your son stave off prison? Even if the trial does take place in St. Maartin, there is enough political pressure on the French that your son won't be sent to a quiet little mental hospital in the Caribbean as much as you and he would like. I have all the confidence that your son is going to do some serious, serious time in a real prison. Anyone with a sane mind already knows that Accutane and Dr. Cornbleet are not the villains. No one is buying your story.
I'm sure it must pain you to know that your son is a monster, but a self-created monster, not the result of a pill he claimed to have taken once, and certainly not the result of a caring and extremely ethical and professional doctor who was trying to help him.
And yes, you are correct in your statement from last night that it would have been better for everyone if your son took his own life. I certainly wish he had.
-- SJC
Having been involved in both interviews, I would recommend that you watch Meincke's. He was truly trying to get the facts and report them in a balanced manner.
Yes, he basically said that Hans Peterson is full of shit and your arguement has no merit.
Dr. Bremner saw the need to do further study.
He asked Roche to provide him with the Accutane needed for the study.
They refused.
Why would they want a study that showed how Accutane damaged the brain? That would provide evidence that would be detrimental to their ongoing lawsuits.
I think the greater question "doctor" Peterson, is where were you, Hans' father, during this supposed time that he was experiencing psychosis after allegedly taking one or two pills? Why did you not get help for your son? Why did you not place him in a psychiatric ward if he indeed, was psychotic? Why didn't you round up a team of mental experts for your son if he was indeed "ruined" by this drug?
I think the sad fact is "doctor" Peterson, that you did nothing for him, nothing to address his so-called mental problems, and you sat by and watched. Your son is responsible for his own actions. Again, he clearly and without doubt plotted this murder for years. He was of enough sound mind to execute a cold-blooded killing. He brought torture devices with him. Your son is a monster and as I said before, even if he only serves 20 years of prison time in the Caribbean, he will spend a lifetime in hell burning for his sins.
-- SJC
What kind of a doctor is Dr Peterson anyways? He seems like a real jack-ass and a sad basket-case.
This story is all everybody is talking about today. How can you go on television and make such a jack-ass out of yourself as he did? Even if I wanted to believe his bull-shit, than why is his son playing all these games running to France to protect himself?
-Brad
"Interesting perspective" my x*! ! It is the drug manufacturer's fault if the drug caused psychosis in Hans Peterson. It is not the doctor's fault. He was trying to help his patient. I find it outrageous that his father would say this.
What was he doing for his son in the 5 years since he took the drug and was "psychotic"? It's certainly sad for all parties, and I do feel for Hans Peterson if he, in fact, was psychotic. I'd be interested in seeing documentation of this from the last 5 years.
I'm sorry you have to bear those hurtful words. If Peterson was psychotic at the time of the murder, so be it. He needs to be tried, although I must say the American courts aren't very friendly for mentally ill people. You can tell from the video he knew right from wrong, which is the lone insanity criteria. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been hiding it. However, he may still have been mentally ill.
It's a hard one to call from that aspect, but for the perpetrator's father to villify the victim and put the Cornbleet family through this is reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Julie
I saw this on the news. I can't believe this guy would even say this. It makes no sense whatsoever. First of all, if the drug made him depressed, stop taking it. Secondly, being depressed doesn't make you a murderer. There is no excuse. This man made me so angry.
I watched the scumbags fathers interview on channel 5 and cant believe the nerve it takes for his father to act as though in some small way your father had it coming to him (with the whole 50/50 "theory") he's as big a scumbag as his son. His son wasnt "crazy" when this happened. He is a cold blooded premeditated MURDERER who doesnt deserve another minute alive. I only hope that he is able to be brought back here to justice, rather than left to live his life in a foreign jail. AN EYE FOR AN EYE is what the bible says and this man deserves to be punished. If his father was so convinced there was any problem from his sons treatment, then he should have helped his son sue your father and let the court decide(i dont believe they would have in court either).
Brian Rowe
Des Plaines Il
He makes a pretty outlandish claim here. That his son somehow became permanently psychotic after only taking the drug for 2 days. Somehow that drug-induced psychosis remained with him 4 1/2 years later when he committed the murder? I think not. And it's too bad Dr. Cornbleet isn't alive to defend himself. It's easy to point fingers at somebody who can't fight back.
Well there is no doubt left in my mind as to why Hans Peterson thinks killing is "okay". His own father seems to condone it. Excuse me but Accutane, four years ago? Isn't this man a doctor himself? Did he not know his son to be dangerous and depressed as he states? Two days of a drug does not a psycho make. I think Childhood years and living with people who think killing is in the fathers words "his sons way of exacting revenge", in his sons mind. His son has no mind and this is a lame, distorted, way for this awful father to forgive himself and his son, but mostly himself for not seeing that this never should have gone this far and why wasn't Dr. Cornbleet warned by the father if he new his son was "in a psychotic state"? Where was he, the father, all these years when his son was plotting the murder of Dr. Cornbleet? I am so tired of excuses and the French and the politics of criminals who simply get away with MURDER. I hope they take away the license of this so called doctor Peterson for whatever he practices because he is as unstable as his son. Face the punishment, man up and get your son back over her to face his fate.
Saw the video. OUTRAGIOUS!!!
On the other hand though, now we can understand why the son isn't playing with a full deck.....
On a good note though, at least you got that on tape to further help your cause.
Wishing you all the best.
Nadine
I remember watching that on the news. I wanted to puke. I don't even think it's a matter of malpractice. I had a friend who took accutane...he KNEW and RESEARCHED the drug before ever taking it. He knew there were more cons involved than pros, but he took it anyway and today he's still glad he did. Lets just pray one of Dr. Peterson's patients' doesn't do what his son did and have that patient's father on the news claiming him to be the villian.
Unbelieveable. The absolute nerve of that man. To say Dr. Cornbleet was to blame is wrong on so many levels. So, basically, if someone makes a mistake it is OK to go back 4 years later and KILL them? (If a mistake was even made) This guy is obviously looking to the future and building his sons court case. Gee...I wonder what the plea will be....insanity maybe? This was completely premeditated, and that is a fact. Who cares what the "motive" was. The end result was the same, and he needs to answer for it.
This is just outragous! Totally ridiculous! Did Dr. Peterson help his son flee to Europe also?
I saw this on the news yesterday. It's completely ridiculous, I mean if Dr Cornbleet did prescribe this drug im sure he was told the side effects prior to him using it by both the dr and the pharmacist (as well as the precautions on the label of the drug and the leaflet no less). There is legal action that he could have taken against him. It troubles me that people are so quick to just go out and take someones life as a first and only resort..
Count me among those fed up with Accutrash Peterson. Accutrash, your son is a murdering lump of filth. It's a shame that Hans can't be extradited to Florida, where they could dust off Old Sparky (the electric chair they used to use), strap him in, and turn the juice on high. Maybe even with Dear Old Dad in his lap.
My sympathies to the family of Doctor Cornbleet. How horrible it must be to endure Accutrash Senior and Accutrash Junior spewing their cowardly drivel.
While I was watch the news at 10 I was screaming at the TV at his father's interview. I can't believe it blaming someone for why there murdered. Also he seemed a little messed up himself I think it's a genectic thing or something wrong upstairs..
That is crap! it is not Dr. Cornbleet fault this guy was psychotic and killed him. There are just people who have to blame someone else besides themselves for their actions. Terribly sad. God rest Dr. Cornbleet and much strength to his family. They are always in my thoughts and prayers.
The whole interview made me sick, but what got me the most was when this man said something about Dr. Cornbleet had looked more into the murderer's medical history. Excuse me?? It's not up to a doctor to do this kind of thing. That was up to yopung Mr. Peterson.
Here's my question:
Punishment is punishment. If Illinois prosecutors have indeed taken the death penalty off the table to get him back, what difference does it matter if he serves 20 years here...or 20 years there?
Question 2:
If he serves time in a French prison for this murder, could he later be arrested on foreign soil--> a US ally or US soil (if he were so stupid) and tried for the same crimes again?
What is the liklihood that he will be returned to the states for trial? Will the family refuse to take part in a French trial?
[deleted post repeated here with repaired link -kg]
Well I can only speculate about some of those questions, but let me try:
what difference does it matter if he serves 20 years here...or 20 years there?
Well as I understand it, the maximum penalty over here would still be greater. I suspect if Hans were actually convicted of this crime in Illinois he would serve more than 20 years. I don't know the ins and outs of French law, but clearly he believes he will get a better deal from the French judicial system.
A French trial would be significantly different than an American one.
Also, when the Accutane controversy started many years ago it was not about the drug causing depression, but rather birth defects and it was at a time when western Europe (particularly Britain) was still reeling from the Thalidomide scandal. So Accutane has been notorious over there for a lot longer than it has been here and if you connect all those dots you might believe you could get a more sympathetic hearing for an Accutane defense from a European judge than from an American one.
Of course, Hans will be tried in Guadaloupe. I have no idea how Accutane will play there.
If he serves time in a French prison for this murder, could he later be arrested on foreign soil--> a US ally or US soil (if he were so stupid) and tried for the same crimes again?
Yes. Not only that, but Hans would probably face Federal charges in addition to state charges. I'm sure a prosecutor could draw up a list of different things to charge him with but the fact that the murder was apparently planned in New York and executed in Illinois and that he drove through at least three other states on his way to committing the crime would be enough. (In fact the FBI was already involved in tracking him when he turned up in St. Martin.) When Hans gets out of prison he would be taking a big chance by traveling to any country with an extradition treaty with the US. Or to the US itself, of course.
What is the liklihood that he will be returned to the states for trial? Will the family refuse to take part in a French trial?
I am told the chances are not very good, but prosecutors are not giving up. If you are so inclined you can write to the US State Department and encourage them to continue putting pressure on the French government. At this point I don't think they are inclined to extradite, however.
As for the family, I don't know. But surely they would rather Hans be tried in Illinois. And in English.
--
I suspect if Hans were actually convicted of this crime in Illinois he would serve more than 20 years.
--
I guess my thinking is this: He's in custody. He's lost his freedom. He's lost the ability to return to the US. He's confessed.
He's facing years behind bars.
I understand the *preference* is to have him tried here, and to get more than 20 years, as many as possible.
But thats a hypothetical as well. He *could* be declared innocent by reason of mental defect. He *could * get off on a technicality.
My point isn't that those things are likely, they aren't. Neither is his return to the States.
So why doesn't the family focus on the fact that he's off the street, he's confessed, and that he's going to do time--and work to make that time as much as possible.
What they're doing now runs the risk of generating apathy among the French for their case. Americans aren't highly thought of in parts of Europe...
Unfortunately, the poster prior to mine does not understand the process of grieving and seems to think that closure and justice comes merely from a long sentence. However, anyone that understands the purpose of the justice system and its goals for the victim also understand that there is a reason that trials allow the family to participate. There is a sense of closure by being in the room, taking part of the process, and understanding the information as it is presented to you.
The cornbleet family has indicated that it does not speak french, it has no background in the french justice system, and there has been no invitation for them to participate. this means that closure for their emotional lives will never be reached, nor will they have the opportunity to come close.
while i am sure they are happy this monster is off the streets, put yourself in their shoes. the person is caught, yet you have no ability to ensure that jsutice is done because you cannot participate in the judicial process. isnt that the point of democracy?
not to mention that allowing him to be tried in france basicaly allows the perpetrator of a crime to decide his fate. is that right? giving the confessed murderer a new right to decide his own fate after he has taken the life of another? i fidn that highly offensive to both systesms of justice. clearly the accused or confessed deserve rights. that is teh pupose of various constitutional amendments. due process, miranda, speedy trial etc. that ensures justice, but having the right to deicde your own sentence clearly takes away any purpose behind the system.
and if my fellow poster still cannot understand the benefits of am american trial, picture yourself in their shoes, wanting to grive and get closure near your loved ones and not in a foreign country where you are a stranger. i only hope you dont have to ever endure what this family has already gone through.
Rumor has it that Hans has been very popular with his new cell mates and already has more than tripled his sexual experiences in the short time in prison. He is a popular spot. They love his pale white butt in there. He is now a rag doll for the other prisoners.
My name is Jabiru.
I'am a french Reporter living in St Martin Island.
I try to understand this Case, and discuss with him in Jail.
"Hansp" from June 2002 until July 4th 2007 participate on Acutane Action Group Forum ( xsorbit1.com)
Every one can read his 64 post. He discribes his own life. Very good "witness". It's an important link if you wan't to think with the facts.
I discuss about that with a french psychiatric expert. Autism and Asperger Syndrom have also to be in your mind to understand a little more about this criminal.
http://www.xsorbit1.com/users/davec//index.cgi?board=&action=usersrecentposts&username=hansp
Hi Jabiru,
We've actually had a pretty thorough discussion of Hans's posts at both the Accutane and Asperger's sites. Anyone whoi wants to read all our posts on the case can go here and read from the bottom up.
Jabiru, did you say that you have spoken to Hans since he has been in jail?
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