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Sitka Daily Sentinel

SITKA -- The mother of a teenager accused of stabbing to death four people, including her parents, said she has forgiven her son and knows her parents would, too.

"I told my son I love him," Kathy Jack, 41, told The Associated Press on Thursday as she watched police officers place the bodies of her parents, John and Alice Abbott, into hearses parked outside the home where they were murdered. "I always will, no matter what he's done. No matter what happens, I love him.

"My parents would feel the same if one of them was here. They would forgive and forget. And that's how our family was," Jack said.

Jack's son, 18-year-old Jason Alex Abbott, has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the Tuesday attacks.

He's accused of stabbing to death John and Alice Abbott, Elizabeth Abbott, and her fiance, Charles Tate. Elizabeth Abbott was Jack's sister.

Jason Abbott, who is being held on $1 million bond, also faces a count of attempted murder; a woman who still has not been identified by authorities survived the attack.

Authorities say they have no motive for the attack on the family.

Jack said she's spoken to her son since he was charged, but declined to discuss the details of her conversation.

Two days before the attack, Jason Abbott was charged with a misdemeanor domestic violence offense for an early Sunday morning altercation with his mother.

Jack declined to discuss the incident, but court records show her son became upset over the color of certain objects in the house.

According to the court filing, Jason Abbott woke up the family because he did not like the colors orange and red, believing them to be "evil colors."

His mother asked that he return missing red place mats, but he said he had already thrown them away.

Police allege he then grabbed his mother, pushed her against the wall and tried to punch her, but only grazed her chin.

"People think that could have been me," Jack said Thursday of the murders. "I know God was there with us. When I think about what happened, I know he was there."

Police have not identified the lone survivor who was in serious but stable condition at a community hospital. At the hospital, family members of the survivor declined to talk.

Sitka Police Lt. Barry Allen said the town has had stabbings before, but none like what happened Tuesday in the 20 years he's been with the department.

After the bodies were being removed from the house, Allen said he admired Jack for her strength.

"Kathy has been doing really good; I have to hand it to her, she's doing extremely well," Allen said. "I don't know what she's doing inside, but outwardly she seems to be doing well."

Clinging to 1-year-old son Michael, Jack said she's not sure where to turn her attention next, but she won't abandon her jailed son.

Jack said she is a devout member of the local Pentecostal church, and time spent there has already helped her cope.

"I know my son needs a lot of prayer," she said. "I've been asking people to pray. I love my son. I know there are problems."