This is exactly right.

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Howard Pearson had always complained that his father was keeping him down, controlling his future too much.

In October of 1935, he would begin to understand what being controlled really felt like.

Six months after he murdered his parents, Howard was admitted to the

Austin State Hospital. There was no life sentence or death penalty, but there was also no real end in sight for Howard, no definitive release date.

It was never ending.

He would be committed at the state hospital until he was determined to be sane by the superintendent and his physicians.

But that wouldn't happen if he didn't make progress with therapy.

And here's a twist. didn't make progress with therapy.

And here's the twist.

If he did make progress, if the doctors changed their diagnosis,

then Howard would be in trouble.

His doctors would be obligated to call the district attorney and

inform him that Howard was now sane. There would be no more insanity defense.

The prosecutor in Austin could file murder charges against Howard, even if it happened decades later.

He never went on trial in April of 1935, so there was no double jeopardy.

Howard could still receive a death sentence, which terrified him.

The Pearson family all seemed to stand by Howard. They felt so sorry for him.

He had been unstable his entire life, yet he never received mental health

treatment or medical intervention.

...