01-09-2017, 09:04 PM
Esteban Santiago, handcuffed, shackled and wearing a red, maximum-security jumpsuit, spoke in a monotone Monday as he answered questions from a judge during a court hearing that lasted about 30 minutes.
![[Image: 2400.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&f...4affa8b88f]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6e6ac643e8cc69d9af3908cdd8160df80812eea7/0_65_2400_1439/master/2400.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=730c1fd55a7457826912344affa8b88f)
"The maximum penalty, if you were to be convicted, is death — it is a capital offense," U.S. Magistrate Valle told him. A bond hearing was scheduled for Jan. 17 and an arraignment, during which Santiago will formally plead to the charges against him, is set for Jan. 23.
Esteban's mother told reporters that she doesn't think the death penalty should apply because her son is a citizen who protected his country in the military and he needs help.
Esteban told investigators shortly after his arrest that doctors said he might be schizophrenic when he was evaluated back in November.
The gun that was taken from him when he was committed for mental evaluation was returned to him by local LE about a month later (about one month before he used it to murder 5 people at the Fort Lauderdale Airport).
Esteban's brother told reporters that he doesn't understand why the gun was returned to Esteban given that he was clearly unstable, he'd proactively told the FBI that he was hearing voices and having violent thoughts, and he'd asked for help. The brother blames authorities for what went down.
The gun was a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and Esteban had packed two cartridges. The gun and ammo were his only luggage. Scary to think how much more damage he could have done if he'd had more ammo or a weapon with a higher capacity before reload.
Refs:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-la...0109-story.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-evil.html
"The maximum penalty, if you were to be convicted, is death — it is a capital offense," U.S. Magistrate Valle told him. A bond hearing was scheduled for Jan. 17 and an arraignment, during which Santiago will formally plead to the charges against him, is set for Jan. 23.
Esteban's mother told reporters that she doesn't think the death penalty should apply because her son is a citizen who protected his country in the military and he needs help.
Esteban told investigators shortly after his arrest that doctors said he might be schizophrenic when he was evaluated back in November.
The gun that was taken from him when he was committed for mental evaluation was returned to him by local LE about a month later (about one month before he used it to murder 5 people at the Fort Lauderdale Airport).
Esteban's brother told reporters that he doesn't understand why the gun was returned to Esteban given that he was clearly unstable, he'd proactively told the FBI that he was hearing voices and having violent thoughts, and he'd asked for help. The brother blames authorities for what went down.
The gun was a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and Esteban had packed two cartridges. The gun and ammo were his only luggage. Scary to think how much more damage he could have done if he'd had more ammo or a weapon with a higher capacity before reload.
Refs:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fort-la...0109-story.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-evil.html