Alayna

Like obviously that's pretty unusual, but it definitely picked up steam. Throughout his life, he had always been respectful. He followed rules and expectations that had been set for him. But that all changed one evening in 1963. His mom was at her home in L.A.

Like obviously that's pretty unusual, but it definitely picked up steam. Throughout his life, he had always been respectful. He followed rules and expectations that had been set for him. But that all changed one evening in 1963. His mom was at her home in L.A.

making dinner, and Rodney just showed up unexpectedly at her door, which was very strange because he had to have hitchhiked more than 3,000 miles from North Carolina. Whoa. Yeah. Which, you know, was strange in and of itself. Yeah. But even more uncharacteristic was the fact that he just up and left the military base with no permission. So he was technically AWOL.

making dinner, and Rodney just showed up unexpectedly at her door, which was very strange because he had to have hitchhiked more than 3,000 miles from North Carolina. Whoa. Yeah. Which, you know, was strange in and of itself. Yeah. But even more uncharacteristic was the fact that he just up and left the military base with no permission. So he was technically AWOL.

Yeah. So Anna Maria was able to convince her son to turn himself in at the nearest recruitment station. And there he was evaluated by an army psychiatrist who at that point determined that Rodney was actually in acute psychological distress and had him admitted to the nearest hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Yeah. So Anna Maria was able to convince her son to turn himself in at the nearest recruitment station. And there he was evaluated by an army psychiatrist who at that point determined that Rodney was actually in acute psychological distress and had him admitted to the nearest hospital for psychiatric treatment.

But this seemed to have come out of nowhere.

But this seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Initially, he was treated just at a regular hospital in San Francisco, but he was soon transferred to a military facility just outside of Irvine, California. And he was admitted for more long-term inpatient treatment at that point. Okay. Now, the triggering event for all of this, like essentially his breakdown is remains unclear.

Initially, he was treated just at a regular hospital in San Francisco, but he was soon transferred to a military facility just outside of Irvine, California. And he was admitted for more long-term inpatient treatment at that point. Okay. Now, the triggering event for all of this, like essentially his breakdown is remains unclear.

But even at that time, there were allegations of sexual misconduct on his part.

But even at that time, there were allegations of sexual misconduct on his part.

So I don't know if he did something and I don't know that he necessarily would have regretted it. Yeah. Maybe it was just overwhelming to have done something awful for the first time. Who knows? But after months of treatment, it became clear that he would no longer be able to keep up with his responsibilities in the military. So in February of 1964, he was given a medical discharge.

So I don't know if he did something and I don't know that he necessarily would have regretted it. Yeah. Maybe it was just overwhelming to have done something awful for the first time. Who knows? But after months of treatment, it became clear that he would no longer be able to keep up with his responsibilities in the military. So in February of 1964, he was given a medical discharge.

And at that point, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder listed as chronic slash severe. Wow. So this is like well documented. Super well documented. The crazy thing about this case is that there are so many things that are well documented, but he just flies under the radar. And ends up on the dating game.

And at that point, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder listed as chronic slash severe. Wow. So this is like well documented. Super well documented. The crazy thing about this case is that there are so many things that are well documented, but he just flies under the radar. And ends up on the dating game.

Ends up on the dating game, is able to get off of things on like a weird technicality. Just very strange. Yeah, it's very odd. After being released from the hospital, though, he returned to his mother's house in Los Angeles, and he just started taking courses at California State University like nothing ever happened. Okay, pal.

Ends up on the dating game, is able to get off of things on like a weird technicality. Just very strange. Yeah, it's very odd. After being released from the hospital, though, he returned to his mother's house in Los Angeles, and he just started taking courses at California State University like nothing ever happened. Okay, pal.

Given his past success in school and his IQ, which was reported to be around 140, which is actually right about where the genius category starts. So he was exceedingly intelligent.

Given his past success in school and his IQ, which was reported to be around 140, which is actually right about where the genius category starts. So he was exceedingly intelligent.