Jack Fitzmorris And Karen Zappitelli: A Real Life Incident

An irrational, desperate, and crazed criminal comes into your place of work, drags you to a room, and holds you against your own free will; is this a hostage or non-hostage incident? How do you ensure your safety while being panicked and scared for your life? Is this considered a traumatic event? In order to answer these types questions we will analyze a real life incident that took place in 2007 involving long time criminal Jack Fitzmorris and victim Karen Zappitelli. On an April afternoon, Fitzmorris escaped from a hospital after overpowering a guard, stealing a uniform and revolver while holding some nurses and guards hostage, car jacked an individual, robbed two banks (Suspect in hostage case draws 35 years, 2008), and ultimately ended his spree when he broke into an accounting business and took the office manager Karen Zappitelli hostage (Associated Press, 2011).

In order to ensure she stayed safe and alive, she remained calm. Zappitelli also talked very little because she did not want to entice Fitzmorris or further aggravate the situation. On the occasions where she did talk, she only emphasized on prayer and religion; telling Fitzmorris she was praying that they would walk out the building alive. Even though Zappitelli was frightened to death during her ordeal, she remained positive, calm, and strong-minded; making her a survivor of this unfortunate event. Analyzing this case into the depth as to what would qualify it as a traumatic event, and a hostage or non-hostage incident, we should visit the technicalities and definitions of these terms. We also need to visit what Zappitelli expressed she felt during and following after the incident to answer if the incident she encountered qualifies as a traumatic event. We will also review the actions committed by Fitzmorris to answer the question if this was a hostage or non-hostage