Questions Remain In Stabbing Death Of Four-Year-Old Muskogee Boy

Chris Wright, News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma -- It's a murder that has left even experienced investigators speechless.

Four-year-old Dakota Lane died Wednesday after police say he was stabbed 36 times during a home invasion.

The suspect, Aaron Laconsello, 18, has only been an adult for six months. He has had run-in with laws recently, but for nothing even remotely close to what he is accused of doing in Muskogee.

11/11/2010 Related Story: Man Accused Of Stabbing Muskogee Boy To Death With Scissors To Be Charged Friday

Two days after Dakota Lane was found dead inside his Muskogee home, there are still so many unanswered questions. The biggest is why.

Why would someone stab a 4-year-old 36 times with a pair of scissors? And if the suspect, 18-year-old Aaron Laconsello, is guilty, what would motivate him to kill a young child authorities say he didn't know?

While his juvenile record is sealed, police who have dealt with Laconsello say he does not have a history of violence.

"At times he could be uncooperative," said Sergeant Jim Flores, NSU Police Dept. "Not physically uncooperative or violent, but uncooperative in the sense that he didn't know how to follow directions."

Northeastern State Police Officer Jim Flores says Laconsello does have a history of showing up on campus intoxicated, and was warned repeatedly to stay away.

Laconsello was banned from Northeastern State University campus, then arrested after police say he showed up again intoxicated. Officers said there was nothing that lead them to believe he was capable of murdering a child.

"Our contacts with him have been relatively minor. Hearing that this happened, I didn't think that something like that would happen." Sergeant Flores said.

Flores says when stopped on campus, Laconsello did tell officers on at least three occasions that he had been drinking alcohol and cough syrup.

According to experts, abusing dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in cough syrup, can lead to hallucinations, paranoia, and psychological breakdown.

Investigators have yet to determine whether or not alcohol played a role in the murder. So, for now, the questions on many people's minds will remain unanswered.

Laconsello also had another minor run-in with the law earlier this month. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol cited him for inattentive driving and driving without a license.

He is expected to be officially charged with murder on Friday.