LEWISTON, Maine – The family of the gunman who killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine last year testified before a commission in Lewiston on Thursday, saying more could have been done to help him and prevent the mass shooting
The family of Robert Card he will never forget the 18 victims. A Lewiston commission began speaking with Card's family this week to determine what could have been done better and whether it could have been avoided.
Family concerned about Robert Card's mental health
“First I would like to acknowledge the loved ones lost on October 25th. My family will never forget your names. Each of your names is on our wall and in our homes as a constant reminder, as well as on our property , so we can see them as we leave the house every day and come home,” said James Herling, Card's brother-in-law. “The medical results have concluded that [Robert] He had a TBI, a traumatic brain injury, which was caused by our own military, not by being at war. His brain wasn't healthy and nobody knew it.”
The card was part of the US Army Reserve. James Herling said his wife Nicole repeatedly called the military because she was concerned his mental health was an issue during training.
“Despite leaving numerous voicemails, none were returned,” Nicole Herling said. “Department of Defense Negligence Regarding Traumatic Brain Injury Must Be Addressed.”
Card was later sent to a military hospital before being released. The Herlings said Card had begun to distance himself from the family.
“Although we were concerned, we assumed the best in terms of our health care system, and that if they were to release him, they should have assessed that he was stable and safe,” added James Herling, speaking before the commission.
When news of the mass shooting reached his family, so did a photo of the suspect.
“I shared it with [Nicole]. He looked at her and was silent. Seconds later, her brother Ryan called her. He said, it's Ryan, and he yelled for me to show him the picture again,” James Herling recalled.
The family says they received no help from law enforcement
Nicole Herling called the police to identify her brother Robert as the suspect. From then on, they said law enforcement it was difficult to communicate with them, and that they were left unprotected in the face of numerous threats and requests from the media.
“We received no protection, no officers just in case [Robert] would have tried to contact us,” said James Herling, “Why couldn't my family get access to a patrol officer? Our family didn't seem to matter, especially when others in the state were getting protection.”
The card was eventually found dead near a recycling plant in Lisbon. The family claims they pushed police to investigate the area further because they believed it was a possible hideout.
“He had a gut feeling and knew where his brother was. Ryan knew his brother. If they had heard him more clearly, it would have ended the search much sooner, preventing fear and chaos in our state,” James continued Herling. .
Ask for change
In the future, the Cards want a place for military families to go when they have concerns and a place to be heard. Card's ex-wife, Cara Lamb, who had a son with him, said she also fought for a place to go after her son told her he was worried about his father's mental health. Lamb said she tried to go to the school resource officer because she was worried that bringing the police to her home would cause more problems for Card.
“I'm not sure we have a proper place for these inappropriate questions. If I can't get it right other than that, that's the point of it,” Lamb encouraged.
