Editor’s Note: We recognize the community’s concerns about our coverage of the suspected bomber’s family. Our goal is always to report accurately and compassionately. Upon reflection, we’ve concluded it was unnecessary to publish our exchange with the family, so we’ve removed that video from this article. We learn from every story, and we learned from this one. We always appreciate feedback, even when it’s tough to read.
The family of the suspected Austin bomber was unaware of Mark Anthony Conditt's involvement in what police said caused three weeks of chaos in Austin.
According to Austin police, Conditt's immediate family in Austin is preparing a statement to release to the public.
KVUE's sister station KUSA was given the following statement by family members in Colorado:
"We are devastated and broken at the news that our family member could be involved in such an awful way. we had no idea of the darkness that Mark must have been in. Our family is a normal family in every way. We love, we pray, and we th to inspire and serve others. Right now, our prayers are for the families who've lost loved ones, for those impacted in any way, and for the soul of our Mark. We are grieving and in shock. Please, respect our privacy as we deal with this terrible, terrible knowledge and try to support each other at this time."
When KVUE first arrived in Conditt's neighborhood just before 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, KVUE was expecting to find police.
But no one was there. When KVUE's Pattrik Perez knocked on the door, the suspect's father was surprised to see him.
"Our sources tell us he is the suspected bomber here in Austin," Perez said when the father's door opened.
"What?" his father asked.
Conditt grew up in a quiet neighborhood in Pflugerville northeast of Austin.
According to police, the family "will be preparing a statement that will likely be going through the Austin Police Department later today."
"They wanted to express their condolences to the families of those who are affected and that will be reflected in their statement," Austin police detective David Fugitt said.
Fugitt said they don't have information to believe the family had any involvement in the series of explosions.
"This family has been very cooperative and has gone above and beyond to answer any questions," Fugitt said.
His family's next door neighbor is stunned.
"It's truly unbelievable," Jeff Reeb, the neighbor said.
Reeb said he's known the Conditts for years and never suspected their son could be capable of killing two people and injuring three others.
"Over the years, there's nothing that I could point to," he said.
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Reeb said Conditt was the oldest of four kids with three younger sisters. He described him as a friendly neighborhood kid.
"My assumption would be that they knew nothing," Reeb said. "They're the nicest family you would want to have, nicest neighbors as you'd want to have."
And while this family now deals with the death of their son and brother, the families of the package explosion victims can finally start getting some answers.
