Odgren's jail tapes played in court

SUDBURY, Mass. -- Recordings featuring the Sudbury teen charged with stabbing a fellow student at school were played before a judge and the victim’s family on Monday.

John Odgren, who allegedly stabbed 15-year-old James Alenson to death in the bathroom at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School, listened to his own words to his dad in Middlesex Superior Court. Alenson’s family was also present in the courtroom as the tapes were played.

“Tell anyone who cares that they have my appreciation and tell anyone who doesn’t, ya know...that they have my spite,” said Odgren in the recording.

Prosecutors hope they will be able to play the tapes during the teen’s upcoming trial to help prove their case.

Odgren’s attorney is fighting to keep the three and a half hours of recordings from being used against his client. He argued that Odgren was insane at the time of the murder and too young to understand his calls were being recorded.

Yet the tapes revealed that Odgren was in fact aware that his conversations were being documented.

“Someone might be listening in right now. That’s all right,” said Odgren.

“Because you’re calling from jail, we know it always could be listened to,” replied his dad.

The tapes also revealed Odgren laughing with his family and joking that he is more recognized than Bill Gates.

“I’m doing my best. I’m writing out all my angst and dismay in all my stories that I can,” said Odgren of his life behind bars.

He also added that he feels like the victim.

“Tell them that I didn’t do it… That’s the truth. I’m being persecuted for being the one who stayed behind... the one who cared enough to kneel down next to his body and try to get help even though it was too late,” said the teen in the recordings.

Odgren’s trial is scheduled to begin April 5.

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