The Voices in His Head Would Not Stop. Then a Boy Was Stabbed to Death.
Briefly

Waldo Mejia's lifelong battle with auditory hallucinations took a tragic turn when he fatally stabbed 14-year-old Caleb Rijos in the Bronx. Mejia, who had confessed to hearing voices since his early 20s, was known to follow their directions, leading to bizarre and alarming behavior, including a spontaneous trip to Mississippi. Despite experiencing periods of silence through medication, the voices never fully disappeared. When confronted in court after the stabbing, he claimed to be with Satan, revealing the deepening crisis of his mental health. This incident emphasizes the critical need for better mental health resources and interventions to prevent such tragedies.
Waldo Mejia, living in the Bronx, began hearing voices in his early 20s, leading him to obey strange commands, culminating in a tragic stabbing incident.
Despite various treatments, the voices Mejia experienced persisted over the years, illustrating a struggle with mental health that escalated to violence.
This tragic event raises questions about mental health support and society's responsibility to intervene before individuals spiral into dangerous behaviors.
The chilling connection between Mejia's mental health struggles and the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Caleb Rijos underscores the urgent need for improved mental health care.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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