Mother Talks about her son's Trial

When many folks look at Chris Lay, they see the man accused of shooting a security guard to death, during a botched bank robbery. His mother says that's not who he is.<br/><br/>Tammy Lay, Murder Suspect's

Saturday, September 24th 2005, 6:35 pm

By: News On 6

When many folks look at Chris Lay, they see the man accused of shooting a security guard to death, during a botched bank robbery. His mother says that's not who he is.

Tammy Lay, Murder Suspect's Mother: "I want people to know that Chris is not a bad person and he is my son and I love him no matter what he does or what he's done I still love em and I still care about him."

Prosecutors believe Chris Lay and his father Wade Lay walked into the Mid-first bank in May of 2004 to rob it.

They're accused of killing 36 year-old Kennetth Anderson, a security guard, in the process.
His sister and daughter spoke to the News on 6 last year.

Tona Collier: "If you needed anything he was the first one to step up and offer help"

Monique Anderson: "I'll miss him being there for me when I need him the most."

Tammy Lay says she actually knew Kenneth Anderson and she's very sorry for his family's loss. But she says her family is also hurting.

Tammy Lay, Murder Suspect's Mother: "my family is just as torn apart as maybe kenneth anderson's family is because we're just as much victims as they are. we never ever thought that anything like this would happen in our family."

Tammy describes her son as kind-hearted and a good person. It's an image that's hard to reconcile with the man who admitted in court to shooting Kenneth Anderson. Tammy says she was estranged from her son for several years after she divorced Wade Lay. She says in that time her son changed.

Tammy Lay, Murder Suspect's Mother: "I really feel like maybe he was a little bit brainwashed really a lot brainwashed and he doesnâ€™t even know that he is really."

Both Chris and Wade Lay could face the death penalty, if they're convicted.

Tammy Lay, Murder Suspect's Mother: "If he does get the death penalty... I don't know if I could deal with that."

The News on 6 tried to talk to Kenneth Anderson's relatives, but they said they don't want to say anything until after the trial.