Sgt. Bales' wife: Shooting is "out of character"

A photograph of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, a U.S. soldier suspected in the shooting deaths of 16 Afghan civilians on March 11, 2012. / CBS News

(CBS/AP) The wife of Army Sgt. Robert Bales, who is accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in a shooting rampage that has frayed ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan, called the portrait of her husband painted by his alleged deeds "out of character."

In a written statement obtained by The News Tribune in Tacoma, Karilyn Bales said: "Our family has little information beyond what we read and see in the media. What has been reported is completely out of character of the man I know and admire. Please respect me when I cannot say I cannot shed any light on what happened that night, so please don't ask."

This is not the first time Bales' family has described the incident as shocking and not consistent with what they know about the 11-year military veteran. In an earlier statement released by Bales' defense team, his family said they only know him "as a devoted husband, father and dedicated member of the armed services."

Karliyn Bales also said in her statement that the March 11 incident was a "terrible and heartbreaking tragedy" that has made her family "profoundly sad."

"We extend our condolences to all the people of the Panjawai district, our hearts go out to all of them, especially the parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents of the children who perished," Bales said in the statement.

Charges expected this week in Afghan killings
New revelations about Sgt. Robert Bales' past
Sgt. Bales' past put under microscope

In a separate development Monday evening, Sgt. Bales' attorney told CBS News' Peter Van Sant that Bales has no memory of the allged attack.

Bales' friends and former colleagues have said they remember Bales as a man of honor.

"Bales is an extremely professional NCO," Capt. Chris Alexander, who served with Bales and has known him for years, told CBS News. "No job too menial or too dangerous, and he would always get it done, and get it done very well."

Bales joined the Army shortly after September 11, 2001. He was already 27 years old at the time.

Family friend Steve Berling says Bales "felt that he needed something bigger in his heart and his mind and in his soul, (and) that's why he went in the military."

"Something terribly terrible has happened to him," neighbor Stuart Ness said. "And I think anybody in the military who's been in combat certainly understands the kind of stress these guys have been going through."

Sgt. Bales, meanwhile, met for the first time with his attorney Monday at the Fort Leavenworth, Kan., military prison where he is being held in solitary confinement.

CBS News has learned that Sgt. Bales is to be charged in those killings this week.

Observers expect a long legal process and a court-martial is likely, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker.

CBS News correspondent Peter Van Sant reports that his lawyer's goal is to make sure that Robert Bales does not get the death penalty. Under the military system, conviction on these charges would bring the death penalty, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said it is definitely on the table in this prosecution.

[themanfrombrum]

You often hear President Obama 'rant on' about holding people accountable, such as terrorists. Well, the President himself should take all the blame for psychologically screwing up his own men like Bales fighting a win-less war on a 'battlefield' that America has created for itself. More and more troops are returning to the US with PTSD and other serious mental disorders, and the fact of the matter is that, sadly, the condition of many of those traumatized are so serious that they will never be the same again. Is this all that soldiers and their loved ones can stand to gain for having been told that serving in the military is the honor of every American in uniform? If this is the case, then.....

[lloydbest1]

As should Bush's one and two, LBJ, "Slick" Willie, and Ronald Reagan. In fact, the only one of the bunch that should get a pass is Jimmie Carter....

[longtree-2009]

he was in debt, defrauded an elder gentleman of all his retirement savings, and had other troubles as well. the man is a killer of dreams, a killer of unarmed civilians including children during the night. nothing will happen to him in the way of justice. lieutenant calley who headed up the my lai massacre in vietnam was sentenced to live in prison but only served 3 years of house arrest. north vietnam got its justice, its revenge, when it defeated both the USA and south vietnam. many soldiers will be killed in afghanistan, perhaps all over the world, because of bates massacre. the difference between the my lai massacre and the bates massacre is the variable of islam. keep in mind the taliban have remained undefeated for over 10 years and supposedly the USA is seeking peace talks.

[endrepubs]

Actually it was in character.....he does kill for a living.

[endrepubs]

Wife says..........."There is another man running around in combat fatigues who looks just like my husband. This other man did it"

[Miss_Fritz]

Gullible people. Check out "Manchurian Candidate (1962) and (2004). An excusable way for western powers to get out of Afghanistan promptly.

[lloydbest1]

I believe her and those collegues who stand by Robert Bales. But it doesn't matter.

Sgt Bales stands accused of committing murder and if convicted could possibly die himself as a consequence.

I have said over and again that you are accountable for the consequences of what you do. If you gun down civilians in a war zone, the risk you take is liability for war crimes. No matter the provocation. You own it completely
Even in a clear cut case of self defense, and this does not appear to be, there is a consequence. You own that. Even if you don't have to pay a legal penalty there is one of conscience. If Bales is a fundementally decent man, offing those unarmed people will weigh on him (even if he doesn't remember it now as suggested by an other article). I would not want that burden - jail might well be better. In any case, he owns it. Responsible or not, it is all his.

If Bales is not a decent man; and it is remotely possible that he may not be in spite of his wife's testimony, then there is no hope. He deserves the worst the law allows.

[moonovermyhammy]

Does he also forget beating his girlfriend -- years before his tours of duty? Or the drunk driving arrest? What about defrauding the elderly couple and being found liable right before signing up to join the military? All a black hole? What a patriot this guy is.

And I love his wife's self-serving statement. She seems mostly concerned about any harm SHE might suffer. Frankly, I hope she lives in fear for the rest of her life.

Don't wives who stay w/battering men face having their children taken away from them? But apparently this guy thinks he's going to be reunited w/his family after he lies his way out of this one too? Unbelieveable.

This guy had a long history of illegal and immoral behavior before enlisting (probably to cover his a$$) and wrapping himself in the mantle of patriotism. Disgusting.

[ReckonedTruth]

fact is.. the only reason he lawyer up..is because he GOT CAUGHT sneaking back into the base after he committed the murders.. doesn't sound like he's insane to me.. EVIL and GODLESS? YES!

Its the death penalty for him RIGHTFULLY.. which sends a message to these other hateful and godless military who are out to do such a thing-who think they have the RIGHT to commit some sort of EVIL justified..

[C_Anderson]

Oh, I get it, they're going to use the "sleepwalking" defense! Clever!

[aasrslb]

Most murderer's families say that it is out of character for their loved one to have done anything like this. Fact is witnesses say he killed a bunch of children and some women for good measure and now lawyers and family are trying to get him off. They say he was insane. He wasn't so insane he killed any Americans and he knew enough to lawyer up right away.