"Baby Killer Focus of Public's Sympathy"
  02/01/2000

After 20 months in a Delaware prison, 21-year-old Brian Peterson, of Wyckoff, NJ, was once again home. For more than an hour before his early morning release from prison on Tuesday, Jan. 4, morning TV news shows made frequent updates about his pending release. The cameras followed him throughout the day. All the way home, in fact. Once home, and given the chance to plop into the recliner, prop his feet on the coffee table, possibly grab a beer, and chat freely on the phone, Peterson went outside to the circus of reporters waiting to hear him speak. Surely Peterson would have some words of wisdom to offer mankind. He had become a symbol of sympathy, compassion, and understanding since his name first made the news back in 1996.

Peterson, you see, had a high-school sweetheart, Amy Grossberg, who got pregnant as a result of the couple’s sexual frolics. The two accepted responsibility for their youthful, lusty actions in the bedroom - right up to the birth of the baby.

The couple managed to keep the pregnancy a secret. The baby was born in a Delaware hotel room. Instead of allowing the baby to latch onto its mother’s breast for nutrition, the baby’s head was hit in hopes it would die. Then our two rich-kid parents plopped the newborn in a plastic bag and tossed it into a trash bin behind the hotel. They thought they were free-and-clear of parenting responsibilities.

When the two were caught, well, instant remorse settled in with the grave consequences that loomed: prosecutors were initially pursuing first-degree murder charges. They suggested Peterson, who attended Gettysburg (Pa.) College, and Grossberg, at the University of Delaware, each face the death penalty.

It was March 1998 when Peterson pleaded guilty to manslaughter and agreed to testify against Grossberg. One month later, Grossberg pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well. She was sentenced to 2-1/2 years, and remains in a Delaware prison. She is scheduled for release in May.

Peterson, however, received a slightly shorter sentence because of his cooperation with investigators. He was released early because of good behavior. Prison officials actually called him a “model prisoner.” Now that he’s released, Peterson must serve 300 hours of community service work. His attorney said Peterson would like to talk with teenagers about the responsibilities that go along with fatherhood.

I’m not sure what impact prison may have had on Peterson, but serving time in prison for the cold-blooded murder of a baby doesn’t exactly teach you any lesson in parenting or in fatherhood. Perhaps Peterson wants to talk to teens about how not to kill a baby. Some interesting points Peterson could make during that talk would include:

• Putting the baby up for adoption at birth

• Abortion (which to me is not an option, but it is, however, legal in the U.S.)

• Asking a family member to raise the baby until you are responsible enough to handle the challenge

• Use protection, such as condoms, spermicidal ointments, or various other forms of birth control

After his appearance on the afternoon and evening news, the public began a major show of support for Peterson, saying he was a victim of circumstance. Sure he was. His own. Poor kid. I guess he never learned about the birds and the bees. Oops, I bet he did! He knew what to do to get Amy pregnant.

Now that he has been warmly accepted back into his community as one of the good ol’ boys, Hollywood made its debut on the scene. A movie studio contacted Peterson about buying his movie rights. He agreed. Seems a show of remorse over being caught is another word for making a profit with a short jail sentence. 

It’s a shame you have to do something as notorious as murdering a baby to have Hollywood chase you for a movie deal about your life. Why not chase the guy who just rescued a family from a burning building? The teacher who is making a difference in the lives of his students would also be a good movie, in my opinion. I guess the public really isn’t interested in the positive side of life. When it comes to movies, as in news, the rule must be: If it bleeds, it leads. That’s so sad.

  - by Dave Jackson (Scoop0901)