By Elizabeth Fernandez
On April 10, an Oregon man with a history of mental distress was arrested on suspicion of harassing the family members of some of the 12 people who were murdered by a gunman at a Colorado movie theater last summer. His name is Kevin Michael Purfield, 45, of Oregon. He is being accused of contacting the relatives of the victims through emails, phone calls, and various social media networks, Portland police said.
Sergeant Pete Simpson of the Portland Police Bureau said he had little information about the background of Kevin Purfield, not including the fact that law enforcement had previously dealt with the suspect, including at least one “mental health call.” A spokesman for Aurora, Colorado police said that Kevin Purfield’s calls and other contacts with the victims’ families added up to dozens and began with him offering multiple conspiracies about the devastating massacre.
A Facebook page belonging to Purfield stated that some of the victims’ coffins were empty, and there were also discussions about the Sandy Hook shooting. The midnight show for “The Dark Knight Rises” left 12 people killed and 58 wounded on July 20, 2012. Purfield was jailed for “ongoing harassment” in lieu of a $10,000 bond and is supposed to appear in Multnomah County Court on April 11. His case will be tried in Portland, Oregon.
