Wednesday, September 5, 2007

John F. Orlando


John F. Orlando: The boy next door

John F. Orlando, a senior at Muskego High School, could write an interesting, albeit horrific, "What I did on my summer vacation" essay.

From 620 WTMJ:



A 17 year-old boy has been charged with four felonies in a shocking case of alleged torture and abuse in Muskego.

John F. Orlando is a senior at Muskego High School and, according to a criminal complaint, he and a 20 year-old woman the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describes as his girlfriend were being "consensually intimate" at his family's home before he locked her out of the house.

More details from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:


The woman rode her bike to Orlando's house on Hillendale Drive at 2 a.m. Friday. Shortly after the rest of his family left at 8:30 a.m., he began cutting her sweatshirt with a box cutter and biting her. After writing on her stomach and pelvis, he took a picture with his cell phone.

After they were consensually intimate, he locked her outside of the house. When he let her back in, he burned her chest and neck with a cigarette. Then he sat on her and choked her until she vomited. He dumped a liquid over her head, telling her it was acid, then sprayed a flammable liquid on her hair and ignited it with a lighter. She was able to put out the flames under a faucet.

As she towel-dried her hair, he pulled the towel tightly around her face, then kicked her several times in the side, stood on her stomach and put one foot on her neck so she again couldn't breathe. When he stopped, she told him she wanted to go home, but he wouldn't let her.

The complaint says Orlando grabbed a pair of nail clippers and tried to gouge the woman's eyes out, but she was able to free herself from his grip. He continually told her he was going to kill her and told her how he would cut her body to pieces and dispose of it where no one would find it, according to the complaint.

The woman's mother then called to tell her she was coming to pick her up. Orlando held a butcher knife to the woman's neck until her mother arrived, the complaint says.

Here's the telling part:


"After they were consensually intimate, he locked her outside of the house. When he let her back in...."

WHY DID THE WOMAN GO BACK IN THE HOUSE?

Orlando locked her out. She wanted back in.

This sounds like an encounter of S & M gone bad.



Orlando was charged with four felonies: first-degree reckless endangerment, intimidation of a victim, false imprisonment and substantial battery. If convicted on all four counts, he would face a maximum prison sentence of 32 years and a fine of $70,000.

The woman, also of Muskego, went to police Friday after the episode with lacerations on her face, scratches and burn marks on her neck, a bite mark on her abdomen and bruises on her body. A permanent marker was used to write on her abdomen and pelvis, according to the complaint. She wasn't hospitalized.

In court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Michelle Hulgaard called Orlando an "extremely violent and sadistic individual."

Most homicides "don't have the level of torture I've seen in this case," she told Court Commissioner Martin Binn.

She asked Binn to set bail at $250,000 cash, saying that in early August, Orlando was determined by juvenile court authorities to be a delinquent in connection with a similar situation. She would not say later whether the victim was the same.

But Binn said the allegations "shock the conscience," and he set bail at $1 million.

Binn said the facts in the case are "as horrendous" as any he has seen.

At Hulgaard's request, Binn also issued a protective order barring Orlando from having any contact with the victim. The woman, who barely weighs 100 pounds, according to Hulgaard, was in court when Orlando, who weighs nearly 300 pounds, made his initial appearance. Hulgaard described the victim as Orlando's girlfriend at the time of the episode.

The details of this case are nauseating to me; but I'm sure some people, with let's say "alternative proclivities," enjoy the gruesome specifics.

I'm not defending Orlando. However, one person's abuse is another person's pleasure.

I would be more sympathetic toward the abused woman if she hadn't gone back in the house.

Although there was horrendous stuff going on, at least some of it apparently was mutually satisfying.

I wonder about this, too:



She asked Binn to set bail at $250,000 cash, saying that in early August, Orlando was determined by juvenile court authorities to be a delinquent in connection with a similar situation. She would not say later whether the victim was the same.

If the early August matter involved the same "victim," that would cast doubt on what she wanted from her "boyfriend."

This isn't the story of an abused wife and mother dependent on a husband and father for support, trapped in a bad situation.

As sick as it seems to me, I think this is likely to end up being a case of "safe word" confusion, consensual behavior run amok.

Very, very, VERY amok.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have actually know John Orlando. I went to both elementary school with him as well as high school with him. Oh how word went around fast today at school. It was insane. But, knowing him, he's been violent since elementary school. He's in what most people call the 'bad crowd'. An event like this - though very severe, is not surprising knowing both him and his history.

Anonymous said...

I agree that word was traveling fast around school today. I walked into first hour and that was the first thing I heard out of the other students. I've also known him since elementary school, and it's true that he wasn't the nicest kid, but that was generally because other kids picked on both him and his sister for their weight. He's more than likely grown up depressed and angry. He was never physically violent with anybody at school for as long as I've known him. The worst he has ever really done is threatened to hurt other students and perhaps take some of their things and throw them. ( I specifially remember him throwing a student's bike in elementary school.)

I would also like to note that the "girlfriend" comes from a mentally unstable family, and likely has some sort of mental issue as well. Also, when she was doing her interview on fox tonight, she didn't have any bruises on her, so considering that this was only 5 days ago, you would think you would at least be able to see some if he beat the crap out of her like she claims he did.

Anonymous said...

She has scratches on her neck, a hurt eye, and on her stomach, i SAW them

Mary said...

According to the interview on FOX, the woman had cracked ribs.

The white of her left eye was bloody and she had marks on her neck from being choked. She also had burn marks.

Anonymous said...

I am 19 now. I met John Orlando when I was 16 he was in my gym classes for both junior and senior years. My locker was actually right next to his senior year. We used to talk quite a bit actually. I had the impression that he was generally a nice funny guy who would occasionally get mad or bully somebody. It didnt seem too unusual though on account of he always was getting picked on. Some examples would be once when we were playing basketball and I would miss the basket he would kick the balls the other way. I would get mad and tell him to get them himself. I remember one instance I jokingly called him fat and he got really mad and threatened to throw me in a garbage can or something like that. I also remember him being very nice and polite to adults. Upon hearing the news of this I was very suprised. I never thought he would do something like this and I cannot picture it at all. I am not trying to defend him or his actions. He definatly has it coming for him for doing such horrible things. I just would like to inform those who never met him of what I think he was like. It is definatly a shame to see somebody who I think had things going for him and great potential do something like this and end up wrecking his life. Having known the victim Christina somewhat I am very glad that she has not been seriously physically injured and did not have to be hospitalized.

Jenni Buehler said...

Mary, your comment about sadomasochism run amok is uninformed, misleading, and woefully inaccurate. Clearly, you have no knowledge about S & M or the type of people who consentually engage in it. They are not violent, maladjusted individuals who falsely imprison, torture, and threaten their partners. For you to suggest that is a theme in this case is irresponsible.

I understand that it may be hard for the casual blogger who has not been physically abused within a romantic relationship to understand Christina's motivation (not that it has any bearing on the fact that she was the victim of torturous attack.) Maybe you have never heard of a phenomenon known as "battered women's syndrome." Consider yourself lucky that you are ignorant of this reality. In the interest of further informing you on the topic, I will include a definition.

"The Court in People v. Aris, 215 Cal App 3d 1194, 264 Cal Rptr 167, 178 (1989) stated that "battered women tend to stay in abusive relationships for a number of reasons." Among those reasons: women are still positively reinforced during the honeymoon phase; women tend to be the peacekeepers in relationships - the ones responsible for making the union work; adverse economic consequences; it is more dangerous to leave than to stay; prior threats by batterer to kill self, or children; or to abscond with children; lost self-esteem; and no psychological energy to leave - resulting in a learned helplessness or psychological paralysis."

If you might imagine for a moment that Christina likely has emotional and/or cognitive delays (as could be determined by any clinician who viewed her interview on Fox 6,) your claim of "mutual satisfaction" begins to look even more imbecilic. Dangerously so.

As for the suggestion that Christina may be guilty of statutory rape, perhaps it eluded your notice that the perpetrator weighs 300 lbs. versus her 100! It is quite possible that the previous pattern of threats and intimidation throughout their association contributed to her giving consent for sexual activity that morning. It is irrelevant, however, why she engaged in intercourse with Orlando. He is 17 and 1/2 years old. Hardly a child. If the court considers him old enough to be tried as an adult for this assault, why on earth would he be considered too young to consent for sex? It's nonsense. In addition, given what most (apparently not yourself) people know about abused women, I would venture to guess that she probably felt a fair amount of pressure from Orlando to be intimate that day. Either way, the suggestion that she may be guilty of a crime for having sex with Orlando is erroneous. Further, that matter is insignificant and immaterial compared to the charges levied against her attacker.

In reference to the blog you wrote containing her televised interview, what sense is there in questioning why she agreed to speak to the media? There were multiple reporters seeking "her side" of a story that would have been published in print and aired on T.V. and the web regardless of her participation. Why shouldn't she talk about it? Silence perpetuates these type of attacks. She is courageous for sharing her experience with the community, despite those whose nature it is to witlessly try to indict and criminate the victim.

The bottom line is that what this young man did is reprehensible and he deserves to be convicted of the charges that the District Attorney has filed. Yes, it is the public's right to examine the story as presented to them (and bear in mind that there are most certainly case details not made available to private citizens,) but I trust that the authorities and eventual jurors handling this matter are more capable than you of judging Orlando after the complete facts are rendered. As for the way in which you seek to judge Christina, one fact and one fact only is germane to this conversation. She is not on trial.

In reference to the matter regarding his prior juvenille delinquency in a similar case, the authorities chose not to divulge that "the victim" (as you so condescendingly put in quotation marks) IS NOT the same woman named in the current case to protect the identity of the GIRL who Orlando was recently convicted of assaulting. As those records are sealed, you will have no way of confirming that fact at this time, but it will be shown at trial. You know?- that place where the people who actually known their ass from a hole in the ground get together and decide how to punish people who brutalize our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

Mary said...

Would you care to identify yourself, Jennifer?

Since you're so well-informed on the specifics of this case, why don't you tell us about your role?

Enlighten us regarding your credibility.

What's your agenda?

This "irresponsible" and "casual blogger" wants to know.

You don't know anything about my background or what I've experienced, yet you make loads of assumptions.

That's not very "professional," but it is interesting.

Anonymous said...

I used to go to school with both Orlando and the victim. I think that the victin did the right thing going to the police. From what i rememeber the victim was in special education classes. (not 100% on that fact) But if that is true that might have something to do with not realizing that going back in the house after being locked out was not a good idea. I think that she didnt realize the what she was getting herself into.

Jenni Buehler said...

I would care to identify myself, "Mary."

My name is "Jennifer" and my "role" is obviously that of an "advocate" for this victim's rights.

My "agenda" is to respond to the "idiotic" comments you made.

While it is true I don't know your personal life history, one can only make the "assumption" that you have no "experience" with physical abuse based on the senseless comments you made about, among others, "safe word confusion."

My "credibility" comes not from the fact that I am any kind of "professional" participating in this case, but rather, from holding you "accountable" for espousing your faulty assessment of Christina Buehler's character in a public forum.

But opinions are like assholes, aren't they?

Mary said...

1. I clearly stated that I was NOT defending Orlando. He's charged with four felonies.

2. Katrina Cravy of FOX 6 brought up the issue of statutory rape.

3. Katrina Cravy of FOX 6 questioned why Buehler would go back into the house after Orlando LOCKED HER OUT.

4. You argue that Buehler suffers from a syndrome as well as emotional and/or cognitive delays. You argue that these conditions render her incapable of exercising her free will with sound judgment.

5. I believe that both Orlando and Buehler made bad choices.

6. Unlike Orlando, Buehler has not been charged with any crimes.

7. I said that I found the details of the case to be nauseating. I'm NOT being an advocate for Orlando or diminishing the plight of abused women.

8. I said that I have sympathy for the abused woman (Buehler).

9. According to the complaint, Orlando performed horrific, criminal acts on Buehler.

10. According to the complaint, Buehler is responsible for going back into the house after he LOCKED HER OUT.

In addition to holding me accountable for a "faulty assessment," perhaps you should hold Katrina Cravy and FOX 6 accountable for raising issues about Buehler's character in its VERY public forum.