Charles Ind remains angry with his brother for killing their mother nearly 13 years ago.

But he strongly opposes having him spend the rest of his life in prison for it.

Jacob Ind was 15 when he killed their mother and stepfather, Pamela and Kermode Jordan, after what the brothers say were years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Charles, who has since changed his name to distance himself from the murders, agreed to an interview only if his new name was not published.

"Jacob wasn't born to do what he did. He was made into it," said Charles, now 31.

"I'm not saying that justifies murder, but it's not right to put a 14- or 15-year-old kid in prison for the rest of his life."

At the time of the murders, Charles said he was an 18-year-old high school senior who had moved out of the house because of the abuse and his stepfather's violent alcoholism.

"It took all my courage just to move out of the house," he said. "But that left Jacob to bear the brunt of what went on."

Charles said his brother had severe mental problems and deep depression. Just before the murders, Jacob had stopped eating, sleeping and keeping himself clean, his brother said.

Teachers were aware of that and some of the problems in the home. Charles said he also reported physical abuse to social services. But both boys remained mum about the sexual abuse until Jacob's trial.

The school began to arrange counseling for Jacob, but no action was taken to remove him from the home. Pamela Jordan assured the school there was no problem, Charles said, "and threatened to litigate if they pressed the issue."

"I believe Jacob was in a place where there was no future for him," he said.

Charles said his brother should have been sent to the state mental hospital for treatment instead of prison.

Charles said he doesn't believe his brother has received the help he needs behind bars.

"Saying you can never develop into anything else, that's not true . . . (But) mental health care in prison, whether you are a lifer or not, is scary at best," Charles said.

"If you are a lifer, it's virtually nonexistent. His case manager at Cañon City told me they were lucky to get a handbook (on mental disorders)."

Charles is still tormented by his mother's death.

"To be honest, I'm still angry at Jacob. I would still testify for him in court or before the legislature," he said.

"But I'm angry about him putting the family in the position where we have to live without him. And I'm angry that he killed my mom. I knew my mom before Kermode came into the picture.

"Jacob never had that because he was too young. I knew the person she was before she was trapped in this psychological vortex of Kermode."

lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5181