8-Year-Old Told Social Workers His 1000 Spanking Would Be His Last Before Murdering Father, Father’s Roommate

On the morning of November 5, 2009, authorities were shocked to discover that the cold-blooded killer responsible for the murders of two individuals was an 8-year-old boy who sought help from a neighbor. Christian Romero, a shy and quiet boy, had always appeared to desire the happiness of those around him, but his grandparents and stepmother sensed that something was amiss.

Two Men Dead

Christian shot his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and his father's roommate, 39-year-old Timothy Romans, inside their home in St. Johns, AZ. Vincent had been shot four times, while Timothy had suffered six gunshot wounds.

The police found Vincent's body in the upstairs foyer, having been shot in the head and chest. Timothy's lifeless body was discovered near the front door, also with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

No signs of forced entry or robbery were found at the scene, and there was no evidence of any disturbance in the home. The police had no reason to believe that either man had enemies, and the idea that Christian could commit such a horrific act never crossed their minds.

During their investigation, the police interviewed friends and family members of the victims but were unable to gather any helpful information.

Police Interrogate Christian

However, everything changed when they spoke to Christian.

Initially, Christian denied shooting his father or his father's roommate. According to his account, he had been circling the family home, as he often did while waiting for his mother to return home. During his walk, he noticed an unfamiliar white car parked in the driveway, which made him feel uneasy. Consequently, he decided to return home.

To his horror, when Christian reached the door, he discovered the gruesome scene. Overwhelmed with distress, he lay down beside his father and cried. After approximately half an hour, he went to a friend's house nearby, and the friend's father immediately called 911.

When questioned about anyone who might want to harm his father, Christian mentioned "bad people" who lived down the street, describing them as smokers who drove a blue car.

The police explained to Christian how gunpowder residue could be found on a person's hands after firing a weapon. In response, Christian made a peculiar comment, suggesting that some "gunpowder" might have blown onto his hands when he walked to the door. Although he initially denied shooting a gun, Christian eventually admitted, under the pressure of the police's explanations about the law, that he might have fired the gun.

Finally, Christian revealed the truth, admitting that he "thought" he had shot his father and also confessed to shooting both men twice using a .22 caliber hunting rifle. He explained that he was constantly in trouble with his father, and the night before the incident, Vincent had allegedly spanked Christian because he had failed to bring home school papers.

Christian shot his father as he ascended the stairs to his bedroom, firing a bullet into his head. When his father moved, Christian shot him once more in the chest. At that moment, Romans was outside the home, engaged in a phone conversation with his wife. As Romans entered the house, Christian shot him twice, once in the head and once in the chest. Christian waited for more than half an hour before reporting the murders to anyone.

Community Stunned by Arrest

The community of St. Johns was stunned to learn that such a seemingly harmless and innocent-looking boy could commit such a heinous act. People wondered if Christian had been subjected to abuse or if there were underlying factors within the household that led to his actions. Did he plan the murders? What events or traumas had he witnessed? Or was it a result of immaturity or maybe exposure to violent media?

Typically, children do not exhibit such extreme violence and anger to the extent of committing murder. And when a child does kill a parent, it is usually during the teenage years. The police were determined to uncover the truth behind this case.

However, Christian's grandparents and stepmother held a different perspective. After learning about Christian's arrest outside the courtroom, Liz Romero, his grandmother, angrily exclaimed,

"I knew this would happen. They were too hard on Christian. I knew he did it. He spent the night in my bed, seeking comfort from me. I had a feeling he did it. If any 8-year-old boy is capable of such an act, it's Christian."

Why Did Christian Kill?

Upon searching the records of Arizona Children Services, no calls, cases, or complaints against the Romero family were found. However, it was revealed that Christian had frequently gone hunting with his father, who had taught him how to use a gun. Authorities speculated that Christian's familiarity with firearms played a role in his ability to carry out the intricate murders.

Christian used a single-action .22 caliber hunting rifle that required the removal of the shell after each shot, followed by loading a new bullet. This is precisely what Christian did on the day he shot his father and Mr. Romans.

The 1000th Spanking

According to Christian's accounts, he had experienced frequent spankings. On the night before the incident, he had received five spankings for failing to bring home school papers. Police discovered a ledger of spankings that Christian had kept, where he had noted that his "1000th spanking would be his last."

The fifth spanking that night happened to be Christian's 1000th, according to his records.

Authorities concluded that Christian had planned to murder his father.

Aftermath

Despite the authorities' initial desire to try Christian as an adult, a 14-month evaluation determined that he lacked the maturity required for such a charge. He was not charged with his father's murder but faced trial for the murder of Mr. Romans. Subsequently, Christian was placed into foster care until his 18th birthday, while still being allowed to attend public school.

Sources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3239230/Teen-admitting-shooting-father-man-dead-aged-just-eight-attend-public-high-school-adopted-judge-s-ruling.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29284614

https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/boys-grandparents-he-was-capable-of-killings/article_e8d21b8b-d3f3-5619-bdda-58f4e8202698.html