Fatal Attraction

A case of jealousy leads to foul play.

By Colin Allen, published on January 01, 2003

An 18-year-old was arrested on Thursday, January 9, on charges of first-degree murder for allegedly poisoning a friend with cyanide as they were playing video games in Baltimore, Maryland. Prosecutors are accusing the teenager, Ryan Furlough, of killing Benjamin Vassiliev because he was in love with Vassiliev's girlfriend. According to court documents, Furlough had been thinking of murdering Vassiliev since October 2002, with intense jealousy as his suspected motive.

Fortunately, jealousy does not usually lead to homicide, although it does frequently manifest in less violent manners. "It is a common human quality; we see it in some form every day," says Bob Lefton, Ph.D., CEO of Psychological Associates and an expert on jealousy. "It is just that, in some people, it builds up and gets out of control."

Jealousy stems from resentment and anger, explains Lefton. People can grow resentful of others' accomplishments, or suspicious of imbalanced relationships. Also, losing status, friends or affection can spark a similarly negative reaction. It is an expression of untamed anger.

"Jealousy is a natural human emotion," says Lefton, one that most can successfully manage. But if it becomes overwhelming, recognizing an ensuing loss of control becomes increasingly difficult. "There is no gauge that says, 'Hey, I'm over the line on this.' It is a very subjective evaluation," says Lefton.

So what could have stopped Furlough from poisoning his friend? Lefton surmises that the young man did not have anyone willing to hear his frustrations. A concerned and caring listener might have diffused Furlough's anger, or at least prevented it from escalating to murder. "If he had sought help, perhaps he could have had a more constructive way of expressing the resentment and anger felt towards his rival."

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