CRIME

Parents of Colorado theater shooting suspect pray for victims, still hope for plea deal

Associated Press
Published | Updated

File--In this file photograph taken on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, Robert Holmes, far right, father of theatre shooting suspect James Holmes, heads into a pre-trial readiness hearing in Centennial, Colo., in the murder trial of his son, who is charged with killing 12 moviegoers and wounding 70 more in a shooting spree in a crowded theatre in Aurora, Colo., in July 2012. Bob Holmes and his wife Arlene, told the Del Mar Times in the couple's first interview since the theatre massacre that Arlene Holmes has written a book and says that she prays for the victims daily "by name and by wound." (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (The Associated Press)

File--In this file photograph taken on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, an unidentified woman, left, consoles Arlene Holmes, right, as she leaves the courtroom after a pre-trial readiness hearing in Centennial, Colo., in the murder trial of her son, James Holmes, who is charged with killing 12 moviegoers and wounding 70 more in a shooting spree in a crowded theatre in Aurora, Colo., in July 2012. Arlene Holmes and her husband, Bob, told the Del Mar Times in the couple's first interview since the mass shooting about the book she wrote after her son's rampage in which she said that she prays for the victims of the theatre rampage daily "by name and by wound." (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (The Associated Press)

The mother of Colorado theater shooting defendant James Holmes says in a new book that she prays for the victims daily and by name.

Bob and Arlene Holmes told the Del Mar Times (http://bit.ly/1IKADqV ) about the book she wrote in their first interview since the 2012 shooting that left 12 dead and 70 others injured. Arlene Holmes says proceeds from "When The Focus Shifts: The Prayer Book of Arlene Holmes," will be donated to mental health services, not to her son's case.

Holmes' parents say they hope their son's life can be spared through a plea deal, even as attorneys are more than two months into jury selection. Opening statements are scheduled for April 27.

They say they feel guilty for not recognizing their son was mentally ill and needed treatment.