COP KILLER DESCRIBED AS MAN ON THE MEND.Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer Mental health professionals in the penalty phase for Michael Raymond Johnson described Friday his metamorphosis metamorphosis (mĕt'əmôr`fəsĭs) [Gr.,=transformation], in zoology, term used to describe a form of development from egg to adult in which there is a series of distinct stages. from a delusional de·lu·sion n. 1. a. The act or process of deluding. b. The state of being deluded. 2. A false belief or opinion: labored under the delusion that success was at hand. substance abuser to a man committed to his own recovery - but it was a metamorphosis that ultimately ended in murder. After years of alcohol and drug abuse, Johnson, 50, started to put his life back on track, say county mental health staffers who worked with him after he sought help in 1994. Johnson even took the first step toward earning a certificate to become a substance abuse counselor. ``He seemed very interested in rehabilitating himself so he could return to work,'' said Marcia Miller, a licensed clinical social worker with the county Behavioral Health Behavioral health was first used in the 1980's to name the combination of the fields mental health and substance abuse. As an example, an organization serving both mental health and substance abuse clients might refer to its practice as behavioral health or Department. The testimony came in the first day of defense arguments to spare Johnson from execution. In January the nine-woman, three-man jury found him guilty of the July 1996 murder of sheriff's Deputy Peter Aguirre Jr. Johnson was also convicted of two special-circumstance allegations - murder of a police officer and murder during a kidnapping kidnapping, in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. , counts that made him eligible for the death penalty. Miller said Johnson showed signs of a delusional disorder Delusional disorder Individuals with delusional disorder suffer from long-term, complex delusions that fall into one of six categories: persecutory, grandiose, jealousy, erotomanic, somatic, or mixed. and thought others could read his mind. As Johnson's sobriety continued, he began to recognize and deal with his inner demons Demons See also devil; evil; ghosts; hell; spirits and spiritualism. ademonist one who denies the existence of the devil or demons. bogyism, bogeyism recognition of the existence of demons and goblins. , Miller said. Gradually, his disheveled appearance gave way to a more respectable demeanor The outward physical behavior and appearance of a person. Demeanor is not merely what someone says but the manner in which it is said. Factors that contribute to an individual's demeanor include tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, and carriage. , in line with his ongoing recovery. Johnson reached the point where he could keep his delusional thoughts in check and could distinguish between reality and the ``fantasy world'' where his illness sometimes took him, Miller said. Dr. Lisa Kus, a senior county psychologist, said that while Johnson's mental illness was clearly related to his past drug use, he improved to the point where he no longer required county mental health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract . But it was a recovery not without its setbacks. And just four months after his last outpatient visit in August 1994, Johnson's inner demons had returned, Kus said. In early 1995, she referred Johnson to a county psychiatrist. And although she thought Johnson was still suffering from mental illness, no medications were prescribed, she said. About 18 months later, deputies were called to a domestic dispute at Johnson's Meiners Oaks home. When Aguirre entered the house, Johnson emerged naked from the shower, blazing away with a pair of pistols, killing the deputy. |
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