Elliot Rodger: Friend Can’t Believe He Was Close With A ‘Mass Murderer’
Philip Bloeser, one of Elliot Rodger’s only friends and who was named often in Elliot’s 140-page manifesto, has opened up about what it’s like having unknowingly been ‘friends with a psychopathic, mass murderer’.
Before Elliot Rodger opened fire on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus and murdered 6 people and 13 others, he wrote a 140-page manifesto titled My Twisted World in which he revealed his future intentions. In the manifesto, he names a friend — Philip Bloeser — who is now speaking out about what it was like being “friends with a psychopathic, mass murderer” and how he is coping in the face of this tragedy.
Elliot Rodger: Friend Philip Bloeser Said He Had No Idea He Was Friends With A ‘Mass Murderer’
“Elliot was incredibly shy and awkward his entire life and it was clear he had issues, but there was never anything to suggest he was capable of this,” Philip told The Daily Mail. “He never displayed anything even bordering on violence or aggression.
If I’d had even the faintest idea I would have done something. Back in January he posted something slightly worrying on Facebook. It wasn’t extreme or aggressive, but he seemed depressed,” he continued.
He went on to say that he had reached out to Elliot’s mother, Li Chin Rodger, about Elliot’s worrying behavior, and Li Chin told him that he was already “being treated for mental health problems.”
Philip Bloeser: ‘You Cannot Rationalize Or Explain This. He Obviously Had A Serious Mental Illness’
“‘When I saw what had happened on the news my jaw dropped to the floor and I was shaking in disbelief. Then I read the manifesto. It makes me sick to think just nine minutes later he shot those girls.
“I could never have possibly imagined anything like this was going to happen. What people need to realize is you cannot rationalize or explain this. He obviously had a serious mental illness; that he was able to hide from the world.
“Everyone is focusing on Elliot’s lack of success with women, but they need to appreciate he was unable to communicate with anyone. … I remember he once said to me: ‘I saw this really attractive girl today and she didn’t even come up to me, she ignored me’. I asked him if he tried talking to her and he said no.”
Philip Bloeser: ‘The Person Described In The Manifesto … Is Not The Person I Knew. … It’s Almost Demonic’
While Elliot mentions Philip in his manifesto often, Philip insists that they were not as close as the manifesto indicates. In reality I was just trying to be nice to Elliot,” he said. “Elliot would usually contact me on Facebook and we would see each other probably once or twice a year. I can honestly say this was the last thing I could ever imagine him doing. Yes, he was shy and yes he was awkward, but that was it.
“The person described in that manifesto and the person on the YouTube recording is not the person I knew. In the video, he even sounds different, he puts on a different voice. It’s almost demonic.”
So sad.
Our continued thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims and all those affected by this horrible tragedy.
— Amanda Mitchell
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