MorganHillTimes.com | The path to the Pentagon

The path to the Pentagon

Mar 8, 2010
By Kollin Kosmicki

John Patrick Bedell had been troubled with mental illness for years, at least going back to the mid-1990s. There were signs of a continued downfall - drug abuse, isolation, paranoia - but nothing had pointed to violence or indicated a desire for causing catastrophe.

Bedell, a Hollister resident who came from a highly-respected family, grew up in Hollister and as a child isolated himself for periods of time with his interest in electronics and computers, and a tendency to read a lot, but he also was "socially capable," as close family friend, Supervisor Reb Monaco, put it. He had a keen sense of humor, a smile that often brought with it a "twinkle in his eye," Monaco said.

He had an inquisitive mind - nurtured by his reading - from early childhood on, said Monaco.

"He could query me sometimes about machine-tooling farming operations," said Monaco, the District 4 supervisor who has known the Bedells for more than three decades. "He was so intelligent. He was really into doing in-depth research on his own if interested in something."

Nothing early on in life could point to his actions Thursday at the Pentagon, where the Hollister resident calmly walked up to the entrance and opened fire using a 9mm handgun before dying from return gunfire.

A tendency to further his intellect had spurred an adult life focused on forwarding his education. For the most part, he was in and out of school throughout the 1990s and for parts of the 2000s as well.

He earned a GED after leaving San Benito High School following his sophomore year, took classes sporadically at area universities in the 1990s, attended Gavilan College, earned a chemical engineering degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2002, and most recently had been pursuing graduate courses at San Jose State University in 2009 for electrical engineering, but was not enrolled in the spring.

In adult life, though, a paranoia grew in Bedell. His abuse of marijuana perpetuated mental illness problems.

He was "obviously very paranoid" and felt "at risk," said Monaco, who spent time with Bedell over the years upon the family's request, being they were close and the family friend had experience with youths as a retired school teacher.

"He felt threatened," said Monaco, when asked for example, "that government agents or some people were out to do him harm."

Family members and friends like Monaco knew Bedell was spiraling. Aside from urging treatment and staying supportive, his parents always made it clear he had a place to live at their Ridgemark residence. They helped him financially when he need it.

In more recent months, when a Texas state trooper pulled over Bedell for speeding and noticed the car in disarray before calling the family on his cell for more information, his mother begged the officer to take Bedell in for mental help. But he couldn't, because the Hollister man was an adult and didn't show the necessary signs he was putting himself or others in danger.

"This is really a demonstration of a terrible situation where there's no way to intervene with an adult who needs help, until they get into the court system," Monaco said. "In denial as he was, there was no way."

He went on: "I think, really, myself, his family, even law enforcement, have done everything they could do legally. He was in such denial. There was no way they could intervene without his consent."

The family has remained quiet for the most part since Thursday - granting one interview request with the Washington Post - while releasing a statement Friday that noted how they were "devastated" by the turn of events.

"To the outside world, this tragedy is the first and only thing they will know of Patrick," the statement read. "To us, he was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin. We may never know why he made this terrible decision. One thing is clear though - his actions were caused by an illness and not a defective character.

"We wish for the speedy and complete recovery of the two officers involved.

"The family asks that you respect their privacy in this terrible time."

One of his two younger brothers, Jeffrey, declined to talk further and said the family does not intend to discuss it publicly.

As a whole, friends and family, and the local community, have been "very, very supportive" about the situation.

"The community is very supportive, very understanding," Monaco said. "We're still a small town. I think people are genuinely supportive and realize this is just a horrible tragedy."

Tom Ament, who is handling service arrangements in Hollister for Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory, also has known the family for many years. Bedell's father is a longtime financial adviser in Hollister. His mother is the director of allied health at Gavilan College. And his grandfather was president at the local Bank of America for many years.

"They are a respected family," he said. "The kids have had good educations. The father has been a stockbroker for years, probably had a lot of transactions for many people in the community.

"They are deeply sad they lost their son. They have always been a close family."

Kollin Kosmicki
Kollin Kosmicki is an editor for South Valley Newspapers. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.