a Christmas tragedy...

Nathan Cheatham died [Christmas day] after turning the gun on himself at a house in Great Falls [Virginia].

Also found dead at the scene were Janina Price, her son Adam and family friend Chris Burrow.

Cheatham's mother, Sheila, was found dead in the driveway of her home, where her son also lived, in McLean.

Cheatham had a relationship with the Price family . . . [that lasted] several years.

Cheatham fired off over 50 rounds [and shot the Price family dog three times before it ended.]

We do not know what motivated him to go up there and do what he did, [said the police of Cheatham.]

I have no idea either, but I'm going to speculate.

These are all facts. It's Christmas day, a time for love and happiness shared with family and friends, also a time of gift-giving for those who can afford it. Nathan is not wealthy since he lives in an apartment at his mother's house. The Prices are well to do. They live in an affluent neighborhood.

These are all questions. Was Nathan on drugs? Did he have a romantic relationship with Janina Price that turned sour? Was Chris Burrow her new lover? Did Nathan blame his mother for his woes? Did he blame himself? We can only speculate.

But, Nathan killed everyone and he killed himself, too. Clearly, Nathan did not value life. But, did he value money? I will venture to say that he did.

Nathan probably valued money more than he valued life. And many people share that value system today, though maybe not as dramatically as Nathan and others who commit heinous acts of violence against others and against themselves.

Do I know exactly why Nathan did what he did? No. But, instinct and experience tell me it had something to do with how he felt about himself in relation to money.

There is something seriously wrong with a society when its people kill themselves and the closest persons to them on days when they are supposed to rejoice in the blessings of life, love, family, and friends.