Couple Slain by Fellow Marines
VELEZ MITCHELL: The apparent passage of a ban on gay marriage in California drove massive crowds of protestors into the streets of Los Angeles. I`ll look at the future of gay marriage. Is it the last frontier of civil rights? But first, an absolute, and I mean absolutely horrifying story coming out of San Diego. A young Marine and his wife were found bound, gagged, and shot to death in their home on October 15. Look at this gorgeous couple. Four suspects have confessed to this gruesome crime, and you would never guess who they were: his fellow Marines. The motives are questionable at this point, authorities saying it was financial, but both mothers of the slain couple -- and I believe you`re looking at the suspects there -- both mothers of the slain couple argued there is a lot more to it. Now, word of sexual assault. This makes me sick to my stomach. What could have caused four Marines to commit such a horrific act against one of their own? Joining me now, Tony Perry, a reporter at "The Los Angeles Times" based in San Diego. Tony, what is the very latest in terms of what these four Marines have confessed to and what they`re charged with?</s>TONY PERRY, "L.A. TIMES": Well, authorities say they`ve confessed to murder, robbery and sexual assault. Now, we haven`t heard from the defense attorneys yet, so a lot has -- is yet to spin out. But Riverside County sheriff, which has been handling this case, along with Naval criminal investigative source, says frankly, the four have all copped to all the charges that one could levy against them.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: And paint the picture of the relationship between the sergeant who was murdered, his wife and these four. What is their -- what was their interaction prior to this horrific crime?</s>PERRY: Well, what we know is that the sergeant, Jan Pietrzak and his wife, Quianna, they lived in a very tidy little suburb just outside Camp Pendleton, out the back gate. And the sergeant worked at Camp Pendleton. He knew these four Marines, who have now been charged with the murders. As a sergeant, he would have had supervisorial authority over them. He knew them. There is some indication they may have socialized together. The sergeant met his wife at a party with a lot of Marines and a lot of girls. And they got married, bought a house, and were beginning their life together when this happened.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: Now obviously -- and race could be an issue here. That`s the only reason we bring it up. The four suspects are African- American. The woman who was murdered is African-American. Her husband is white. Is there a racial motive here that authorities are looking into? Because you can`t just say it`s about money when there`s sexual assault.</s>PERRY: Indeed. But there is nothing in the papers that would suggest race, nothing the prosecutors have said, nothing the police have said, nothing that the Marine Corps has said that would suggest race. If race had been part of this crime, one would think the hate crime allegation would be included in the allegations. It is not. So at this point, no one is saying, officially or even unofficially, on or off the record, that race is involved.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: Thank you, Tony. Appreciate it. Great reporting there. What could have motivated such a -- it`s just a stomach churning crime. It`s just horrible to even read about, much less think about. Could race be a factor? The couple, as we just mentioned, was biracial. Could war psychology, perhaps, have played a role? Back with me, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, a political psychologist, and Jami Floyd, anchor of "In Session." Jami, these four men were former Marines under the command of this sergeant they killed, along with his wife. I don`t think we can underestimate the fact that he was kind of their boss.</s>FLOYD: Yes. And the Marines, we all know it`s no joke. And I know many Marines, and it is -- this is a complete aberration, because they are fine servicemen. But I think you raise a good point, and that is the psychology of the battlefield and, I think, perhaps together with a racial component, there could be a factor here. There was a wonderful movie recently based on a true story, "Valley of Elah." And it is about another now-well-known case of post-Iraq soldiers who end up committing a horrific crime. It`s all about war psychology. And "The New York Times" has done a wonderful series on the impact over time of these repeat deployments. It is horrific beyond anyone`s imagination. But again, Jane, a true aberration for this.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: And one of the things that we`ve just learned moments ago is that, in fact, these four Marines were not deployed but -- they weren`t deployed to Iraq. They were there at Camp Pendleton. But, Dr. Judy, they still go through all sorts of training that teaches them how to kill. And sometimes, that has an impact. They`re shooting. They`re doing all sorts of other things.</s>KURIANSKY: Exactly. And we love our troops, as Jami said. And I`m an Army brat. I`m very patriotic, and I love the Army. And so it`s really very difficult for me to admit that, as a psychologist and knowing something about war psychology, when men are put in this position, where they are acting as a weapon, and they lose their judgment, which they`re not supposed to do. But something seeps through and with the group -- remember, there are four of them. So the group psychology here, then, acts as egging each other on. Then they can do things that are outside of what they`re supposed to do.</s>FLOYD: And Jane, I think we do have to think about the psychology of those who are subordinates and then you add that racial component of the white superior. And those these young men were not...</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: And the attractive African-American wife. Very pretty.</s>FLOYD: Absolutely beautiful.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: And don`t underestimate that, either. Right?</s>FLOYD: Absolutely beautiful couple. And we may want to think that we`re in a post-racial society, but we`re not, entirely. And so it`s all very complicated. And while these young men may not have been deployed to Iraq, they are under tremendous strain. So again, I think it`s complicated. Judy`s a terrific guest for it. It`s complicated psychologically, but I think there may be a little bit of all of the elements you raised, Jane, at work here.</s>VELEZ MITCHELL: You know, I agree absolutely. And I want to thank Dr. Judy and Jami. Thanks so much for coming on. And I`m so happy you`re here. Please come back. We really need your insights, because they`re so wonderful. And I agree totally with Jami and Dr. Judy, is that while this stuff is multi-determined, who commits a crime like this? There is no rational reason. It`s all irrational. It`s all crazy stuff in the head that we, as a society, have to deal with now. We can`t let this go on. Massachusetts voters say a little pot, no big deal. Police ain`t happy. Is this trend towards decriminalization going to last?