Investigators are pouring into every facet of Stephen Paddock’s life. The dead mass murderer is one of the strangest monsters in American history. What made him tick? We may be close to getting answers.
Court records from Paddock’s 2013 lawsuit against the Cosmopolitan have been released to the public. Paddock claimed to have slipped on a patch of wet floor in the casino. During his testimony, Paddock admitted to having been prescribed Valium. He also mentioned that he occasionally gambled up to $1 million in a single night.
“That’s a lot of money,” Paddock’s lawyer said.
“No it’s not,” the future killer replied.
Valium is a strong drug. It won’t turn a sane person into a maniac, but it could aggravate existing mental health problems among certain people.
“If somebody has an underlying aggression problem and you sedate them with that drug, they can become aggressive,” Dr. Mel Pohl, chief medical officer of the Las Vegas Recovery Center, said.
“It can disinhibit an underlying emotional state. … It is much like what happens when you give alcohol to some people … they become aggressive instead of going to sleep.”
It’s unknown if Paddock was on the medication during his rampage. Investigators believe that his actions were prompted by severe mental health issues. It’s not an excuse for his crimes, but it might be an explanation.
“Video footage showed Paddock’s fall in the Cosmopolitan – but also a number of other guests and staff walking over the same area without apparently noticing any puddles or danger… The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice…”
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(Source: Daily Mail)