Heartless
“Heartless” was a television drama produced back in 1997. It told the fictional story of a shy young woman who received a heart transplant and then underwent a personality change that may have been connected to the murdered donor. The movie was poorly reviewed, but the theory of cellular memory was an interesting idea at the time, and one that still generates interest among some members of the scientific community.
Cellular memory theorists suggest that the cells in our bodies contain information about our personalities, tastes and histories. In essence, every cell has its own mind and when you transfer tissues or organs from one body to another, the cells from the first body carry memories into the second body. According to some research, evidence of this phenomenon has been found most prevalently in heart transplant recipients.
I was reminded of the movie and cellular memory again when I read a story in today’s Minneapolis StarTribune involving 18 year-old Andrew Busskohl of Woodbury, Minnesota. In 2003, Busskohl received a heart transplant. He later told a reporter that he had aced his favorite school subject and planned on becoming a surgeon. There was no mention in the story of Busskohl having a juvenile criminal record or being anything but a very appreciative and happy young man.
Yesterday, Busskohl was charged with first-degree burglary with a dangerous weapon and aggravated harassment with a dangerous weapon, both felonies. He was booked and released on $100,000 bail on the condition that he undergoes a psychiatric evaluation.
According to a complaint filed last week, Busskohl had described a scenario to a friend in which he planned to find a man who lived by himself and within walking distance of his home. He would break a window at the man’s house at night, a day or two before the slaying, giving him access to the house the night of the killing. Dressed in dark clothes, a swim cap, latex gloves and shoe coverings, he planned to enter his victim’s bedroom and stab him in the chest or slash his throat. Then he would either “cut off the victim’s eyelids or cut out his heart.” Afterward, he planned to walk home and burn the evidence with acetone.
Busskohl now stands accused of carrying out the first part of his imagined scenario last week by breaking a window at a neighbor’s house around 1 a.m. After Busskohl’s friend came forward and told police of Busskohl’s apparent plans, they secured a warrant and searched Busskohl’s home where they found all the above mentioned gear as well as a pry bar, black mask, a knife and flashlights, tweezers, scissors and a scalpel.
Maybe Andrew Busskohl would have become the same troubled person he is today without a heart transplant. But as cellular theorists might suggest, maybe not.
Cellular memory theorists suggest that the cells in our bodies contain information about our personalities, tastes and histories. In essence, every cell has its own mind and when you transfer tissues or organs from one body to another, the cells from the first body carry memories into the second body. According to some research, evidence of this phenomenon has been found most prevalently in heart transplant recipients.
I was reminded of the movie and cellular memory again when I read a story in today’s Minneapolis StarTribune involving 18 year-old Andrew Busskohl of Woodbury, Minnesota. In 2003, Busskohl received a heart transplant. He later told a reporter that he had aced his favorite school subject and planned on becoming a surgeon. There was no mention in the story of Busskohl having a juvenile criminal record or being anything but a very appreciative and happy young man.
Yesterday, Busskohl was charged with first-degree burglary with a dangerous weapon and aggravated harassment with a dangerous weapon, both felonies. He was booked and released on $100,000 bail on the condition that he undergoes a psychiatric evaluation.
According to a complaint filed last week, Busskohl had described a scenario to a friend in which he planned to find a man who lived by himself and within walking distance of his home. He would break a window at the man’s house at night, a day or two before the slaying, giving him access to the house the night of the killing. Dressed in dark clothes, a swim cap, latex gloves and shoe coverings, he planned to enter his victim’s bedroom and stab him in the chest or slash his throat. Then he would either “cut off the victim’s eyelids or cut out his heart.” Afterward, he planned to walk home and burn the evidence with acetone.
Busskohl now stands accused of carrying out the first part of his imagined scenario last week by breaking a window at a neighbor’s house around 1 a.m. After Busskohl’s friend came forward and told police of Busskohl’s apparent plans, they secured a warrant and searched Busskohl’s home where they found all the above mentioned gear as well as a pry bar, black mask, a knife and flashlights, tweezers, scissors and a scalpel.
Maybe Andrew Busskohl would have become the same troubled person he is today without a heart transplant. But as cellular theorists might suggest, maybe not.
Views: 14
Comment
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Comment by Christopher Valen on August 16, 2008 at 5:22am
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Jean,
I've been so busy working on the second John Santana police procedural that I really haven't given it much thought. It's an interesting idea, though, and might make a good novel or short story.
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Comment by Jean Henry Mead on August 15, 2008 at 1:22pm
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Fascinating subject, Chris. It's certainly the basis for a good murder mystery. Have you thought about it?
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