COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The mother of the man charged in the slaying of Auburn University student Lauren Burk has offered an apology to Burk's family for the freshman's death.

Catherine Williams, the mother of suspect Courtney Lockhart, made the apology in a tearful interview with Columbus TV station WTVM.

"I am sorry that Courtney did that. First, let me say I'm sorry to the Burk family for Courtney taking, taking their child. My heart goes out to her family," Williams said.

But she said her son did not confess anything to her.

Lockhart was arrested Friday in Phenix City, Ala., and was charged with capital murder in Burk's abduction and shooting death.

Police would not say what led them to charge the 23-year-old man with her death, or divulge evidence linking him.

The 18-year-old Marietta woman was found shot on the side of an off-campus road Tuesday night and her car was found burning in a campus parking lot.

Wiliams told the television station that her son hasn't been the same after serving 16 months in Iraq. She says her son had been living with her in Smiths Station, Ala., since returning from the war.

A phone directory search revealed an unlisted number for Catherine Williams in Smiths Station.

No one immediately returned today a message for comment made to another listing for Cathy Williams in the same town.