CONKLIN, N.Y. -- The family of escaped inmate David Sweat is speaking out from their home in the Southern Tier about his violent past and behavior problems, which they say started at a young age.
Sweat has been serving a life sentence without parole for killing a Broome County Sheriff's deputy in 2002.
His mother, Pamela Sweat, said David began acting out when he was just 9 years old, saying he was often violent, and at one point brought butcher knives to school.
In an interview with Time Warner Cable News Wednesday, Sweat said she tried bringing him to doctors for help, but, by his teenage years, she she had lost contact with him.
His family said now that David is back in the spotlight, it's like living the nightmare all over again.
"It doesn't just hurt me. It hurts my kids, my son's friends who were close to him. Kevin [Tarsia's] family because he took their son away from them, and even though my son didn't die he was locked up," Pamela Sweat said.
"It shocked me because he's been there for 15 years. He had a certain status in there. Why you would leave? I have no idea. I don't know what goes through his mind," said Tilly Tuttle, David Sweat's sister.
An unmarked police car has been outside the family's home in Conklin since Saturday's escape.