Family of Austin Bombing Suspect: “We had No Idea of the Darkness Mark Must Have Been In”

PFLUGERVILLE (WBAP/KLIF News) – The family of the suspect in a string of bombings in Central Texas said they are in shock and are praying for the victims.

23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt was killed early Wednesday morning when investigators said he detonated an explosive device in his car as police moved in on him outside a hotel in Round Rock, about 19 miles north of Austin.

On behalf of the family, Conditt’s aunt released a statement to CNN.

“We are devastated and broken at the news that our family could be involved in such an awful way. We had not 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 try to inspire and serve others. Right now our prayers are for those families that have lost loved ones, for those impacted in anyway, and for the soul of our Mark. We are grieving and we are in shock. Please respect our privacy as we deal with this terrible, terrible knowledge and try to support each other through this time,” she said.

Mark Anthony Conditt grew up in Pflugerville, just northeast of Austin. He was the oldest of four children and neighbors described him as a quiet person.

His death follows a three-week reign of terror in Austin.

Since the first package bomb exploded March 2nd, two people were killed and four others injured.