I think this shows someone with a narcissistic personality disorder. People who do these type of things are wrapped up in how things affect them. If he was thinking about his children, he wouldn't have axed them and then set them on fire. He was upset that he hadn't been given custody of the children and there was evidence that the kids were speaking about the night their mom disappeared by saying "Mommy was in the trunk". I think the most heartbreaking part is that the children rushed to the door ahead of the social worker because they were excited to see their father--this is how he was able to shut the door in her face and get control of the children.