Rodger's Family Friend Say Killer's Parents Tried To Get Son Mental Help
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Elliot Rodger's parents have not yet spoken publicly about their son's murderous rampage.
But Alan Shifman, a family friend and former Rodger family attorney, says Rodger's parents tried to get their troubled son help.
He was with Rodger's parents when they found out their son had involvement in the tragedy.
"I had never been involved in anything like that in my life," he told KCAL9's Randy Paige.
Shifman was describing what he calls an "excruciating time" spent with Elliot's parents in Santa Barbara Friday night as they waited to learn if their son was dead or alive.
"It was painful. If it was painful for me, you have to imagine the pain the family ws going through of not knowing anything --- whether their child was alive, not knowing if he was a victim or a perptetrator, and it took quite a while."
Shifman says Rodgers' mother did all she could to get help for her son -- first by arranging for him to see a therapist and then, in April, contacting the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.
"What sticks in my mind was the courage of a mother to pick up a phone and seek help," Shifman said.
A YouTube video, in which Rodger outlined his plans to massacre a sorority and random strangers around Isla Vista, was chilling.
Other images, of course, have also emerged of Rodger living a life of privilege as the son of a sought-after Hollywood assistant director -- flying first class, luxury cars, attending film premieres, walking the red carpet.
The life of privilege turned into death and destruction on Friday.
He ended his 140-page often rambling and bitter manifesto saying, "Finally, at long last, I can show the world my true worth."
