Condemned man had troubled childhood, mental problems

Monday, June 8, 1998 | 11:24 a.m.

Calambro, 25, was sentenced to die for the January 1994 murders of Peggy Crawford, who had a tire iron driven through her skull, and Keith Christopher, whose head was crushed by a hammer.

But Michael Pescetta, the federal public defender handling an appeal filed by Calambro's mother, Lydia, says that when Calambro faced execution three years ago, he didn't really think he would die but would "go to sleep and then wake up, in the manner of a vampire."

"There is no basis for assuming the petitioner's level of rational understanding on the point has increased since then," he added.

He says Calambro is borderline mentally retarded, has symptoms of schizophrenia, language difficulty and an IQ of only 71.

Calambro also was neglected as a child, had a mentally ill father who beat him and abused his mother and sister, and gets his ideas from "watching television and other people who he copies," Pescetta said.

Pescetta also said Calambro has had no communication of any sort with his lawyers or his mother for nearly two years.

The lawyer met with Calambro in 1995 and also relied on reports done at that time by psychologists Patricia Heras and Robert Hiller.

The psychologists determined Calambro, because of his limited intelligence, was easily led by his crime partner, Duc Cong Huynh who committed suicide while in prison.

Dr. Heras said in his evaluation of Calambro the inmate responded to her questions by repeating verses from the Bible which he had memorized, displayed "magical" thought disorders, and didn't grasp the meaning of death.

Dr. Hiller said Calambro's bizarre behavior included giggling at his trial. He added Calambro had "a striking history of irreparable neglect and abuse."

But despite testimony about Calambro's mental state, the Nevada Supreme Court had agreed in 1995 he was competent to waive his appeal rights. The high court also said the death sentence wasn't excessive, "considering both the crime and the defendant."

The court described how Christopher was beaten on the head with a hammer by Calambro - who after finally killing the man tried to pry open his skull.

The court also said Calambro may have tried repeatedly to drive a crowbar through Ms. Crawford's head before succeeding - and he claimed he then tried to pry her skull apart with his hands.

Calambro, a native of Iloilo, Philippines, and one of eight children, immigrated to the United States in 1982.

Lydia Calambro says her son dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and began several years ago to sit by himself for hours, at times laughing for no apparent reason.

She also said Calambro began complaining of severe headaches and began to hear voices a year or so before the murders.

Family members also said Calambro, despite his many problems, had no record of serious crimes and managed to get along until meeting Huynh, a Saigon native who they described as violent and mentally disturbed.

While the family has tried to communicate with Calambro, his sister Noemi said she finally stopped writing to him in prison because he would only respond with quotes from the Bible.

She also said Huynh told her brother that if he acted crazy, he'd be sent back to the Philippines.