DECATUR—A very strange case has emerged in the central part of the state, out of which questions have arisen regarding the past of a university psych instructor.
James St. James, professor
And it’s not just any “past.”
This guy, James St. James, has been teaching at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, for the better part of three decades now. Psychology, as a matter of fact, among other courses.
And only recently—like, last week—did anyone learn that when he was a teen, he killed his entire family.
His real name is James Wolcott. His dad, Gordon Wolcott, was the chairman of the biology department of a local university. In 1967, in a suburb of Austin, Texas, when James Wolcott was not quite 15, he sniffed some model airplane glue one evening (August 4, 1967), picked up a .22-cal rifle, and shot his parents and his sister to death.
He pled insanity and was put away in an institution for six years.
When he came out, he changed his name, went about his business, got his master’s and then doctorate in psych, and moved on. Right here to Illinois.
Folks in Decatur were a little disturbed when all this was uncovered by some Georgetown (Texas, the suburb where the killings took place) reporters who were interested in anniversarying the case and, in their effort, tracked Wolcott/St. James down to Decatur.
St. James has been an exemplary instructor, according to all accounts, even winning a “Teaching Excellence and Leadership Award” in 1997.
Most of the students at Milliken are coming to St. James’ defense over the issue. Most of the rest of Macon County is kind of in shock.
It’s unclear what’s going to happen at this point. However, it’s brought forth a number of VERY interesting questions. Such as: Does a person become rehabilitated after such an incident? Was he really “insane,” especially under the influence of intoxicating/mind-altering substances? And if that was what prompted the whole thing, then after six years, wouldn’t it stand to reason that if it wasn’t in his character at all, couldn’t he have the chance to become successful and move on with his life? We want to know what you think.