Vince Lombardo says his son Kyle was diagnosed as a child with Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism that leads to difficulty with social interaction - as well as attention-deficit disorder, or ADD.
"He's mentally challenged. He didn't want to kill her," he said.
[Ads /]
Kyle Lombardo, 25, has been charged in the murder of Karyn Lombardo, 57, a beloved teacher in Burbank for more than 30 years.
He faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
Authorities say Kyle killed his mother Tuesday night during an altercation at their home.
Kyle Lombardo made a brief court appearance Thursday and is being held on $2 million bail.
Vince was out of town when the incident happened. Choking up, he recalled his son talking to him afterward.
[Ads /]
"My son called me and kind of just briefly told me what happened," he said.
"There was some type of altercation that, her head was hit."
He said Kyle takes medications but they aren't effective, and police had to visit the home several times over the years. And as an adult, he has trouble getting mental health services from the state. Appointments can take months, he said.
"He was volatile. He had a kind heart, big heart. But when he got to that point he was pretty volatile and he didn't know how to control his emotions."
Karyn Lombardo had worked in the Burbank Unified School District since 1990, with most of her career spent at Bret Harte Elementary School - most recently as a kindergarten teacher. Students and parents said she was a well-liked and respected educator.
"She was an outstanding teacher," said Natalie Talamantes, incoming president of the school's PTA. "What a big loss for us here at Bret Harte."