The state Office of the Child Advocate has been investigating child deaths for 18 years, but it's never seen the scenario it is encountering now in its request for school records of deceased gunman Adam Lanza.
One thing is certain: the shooting deaths of 20 children last year at Sandy Hook Elementary School is different than any other investigation the office has been involved with before. That became clear recently, when the Child Fatality Review Panel, which is the investigative arm of the office, requested Lanza's report cards, attendance sheets, guidance counselor reports and other school records. The hope, panel members said, is to shed some light on what motivated Lanza to go on the rampage that killed six adults, as well as the children.
