A Penticton mother is confirming a story that CTV News broke earlier this week. In an exclusive interview, the mother of convicted bank robber Luke Sommer explains how her son became involved in an alleged prison break plan with a notorious B.C. gangster Clayton Roueche.
Peachland, B.C., resident Christel Davidsen had never heard of Roueche.
He was the self styled head of the UN Gang until he was arrested in Texas in May 2008 for masterminding an international illegal drug ring.
Davidsen saw Roueche for the first time when she was visiting her son in a Seattle prison.
"I had no idea who Clay was,'' she said.
Her son is serving a 24-year jail term after robbing a Tacoma bank.
Sommer and Roueche became friends and allegedly started plotting to escape from Seatac prison.
The plan allegedly involved blowing up Seatac and killing guards if necessary
The case came to light after prison officials moved Roueche out of Washington to Illinois.
They won't talk about the case.
Although Sommer is a Canadian, he was also a former U.S. Army ranger.
He saw combat in Iraq in 2004 and in Afghanistan in 2005.
Davidsen says her son was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
"He loves to sit and create all kinds of stories," she said.
She says her son loves to develop grandiose plans.
But Davidsen doubts he would execute the prison plot he's been accused of.
"To actually implement is a whole different story," she said.
Davidsen says she is trying to get her son back to Canada to serve his term under the treaty transfer program.
But these latest allegations make that less likely that will happen
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington
