12-Year-Old Murders Grandparents

On April 9, 1989, 12-year-old Christopher Pittman murdered his grandparents, Joe and Joy Pittman, shooting both to death. Pittman claimed paranormal entities influenced his decision to kill his grandparents, which he said occurred after doctors changed his psychiatric medications. This happened after Christopher moved into his grandparent's home.

A Troubled Child

Christopher was a troubled child who often acted out toward his family. His mother was not in his life, which likely influenced his behavior. He twice ran away from home and after threatening suicide, was confined to a state facility for a period of six days. At the facility, doctors diagnosed Christopher with depression and prescribed Paxil as treatment.

Christopher’s parents sent him to live with his grandparents in Chester, South Carolina, after his release. They did not send his medication with him, however.

His grandparents visited a doctor with Christopher hoping to get a prescription for Paxil. The doctor did not give them a Paxil prescription, however, instead offering samples of another antidepressant called Zoloft. Medical experts advise against substituting one antidepressant drug for another.

Soon after taking Zoloft, Christopher began experiencing side effects. His sister described him as being “manic” while he told his grandparents he felt a burning sensation all over his body. When Christopher complained about the side effects, the doctor increased his mild 25 mg dosage up to 50 mg per day.

Side effects of Zoloft in children include aggravated depression, abnormal dreams, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, delusion, and paranoid reactions. Overdose of Zoloft can cause “manic reactions.’

Christopher’s Bad Day Leads to Double Murder

On November 28, two days after the medication dosage increase, Christopher choked a student he got into an argument with on the school bus as they headed to school. That evening at church, a still angry Christopher argued with a piano player. When he arrived home, his grandfather gave Christopher a spanking and then confined him to his room for the evening as punishment.

Several hours passed when Christopher snuck into the bedroom of his now-sleeping grandparents. Armed with his grandfather’s shotgun -a weapon the man taught his grandson how to use- Christopher aimed the weapon at Joe and pulled the trigger. He then aimed the shotgun at Joy and fired.

Christopher then set the home afire using candles and paper, grabbed the dog and $33 from his grandfather’s wallet and fled the home in their vehicle. Officers soon caught up with Pittman two counties away and took him into custody.

Pittman Confessed to Murdering Grandparents

Christopher told police a Black man broke into the home and killed his grandparents, set the home on fire, and then kidnapped him. Later, he made a full confession to the crime, telling police his grandparents “deserved what they got.”

Sentencing & Case Aftermath

At Christopher’s trial three years later, his lawyers argued the change in antidepressants and the sudden dosage increase led to the actions of the pre-teen boy that day. Christopher was tried as an adult and found guilty of murder. The court sentenced him to 30 years in prison in February 2005.

Christopher was granted a new trial in 2010 after a court granted him post-conviction relief. At this trial, Christopher was resentenced to 25-years in prison. He currently has a release date scheduled for 2023.

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