King Family on Young Boys' Conviction

Sep. 10 -- Alex and Derek King, the 13- and 14-year-old boys convicted of second-degree murder last week for bludgeoning their father to death, spent much of their childhood without a stable home and family. Now they wait on what's left of their family to visit them in prison, which could be their home for the rest of their lives.

The boys' first post-conviction visit came Saturday. Their mother Janet French, a former nightclub dancer, didn't show, but their grandparents and aunt did and they shared their story with Molly Barrows of ABCNEWS' Pensacola, Fla., affiliate WEAR-TV.

Shannon Castro, the boys' aunt, says they didn't seem to understand that their life would never be the same.

Not Getting a Grasp

"I don't really think that they can grasp that the rest of your life, or 20 years of your life. I don't think 13- and 14-year-olds can think past next week, or next month, much less 20 years," Castro said.

The King brothers were tried as adults and faced mandatory life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder in the Nov. 26, 2001, slaying of their father, Terry King.

Instead, the jury found them guilty of second-degree murder. The boys are facing 22 years to life without parole, but the judge is allowed to go below the minimum when they are sentenced Oct.17. They could also face 30 years in prison for arson.

The boys initially confessed their involvement in the killing. In taped statements to police, both said they killed their father because they feared he would punish them for running away. Four months later, the boys recanted their confession and said Rick Chavis, a former family friend, was the real killer.

Chavis, 40, was also charged with the crime and went before a separate jury. The verdict for Chavis was sealed until after the jury in the boys' case reached a verdict.

Chavis, a convicted child molester who also allegedly engaged in underage sex with Alex (the younger brother), was acquitted of the murder charges.

The boys, who were bouncing and twirling in their chairs outside the jurors' presence during the trial, appeared shaken by the verdict. Derek bowed his head while Alex wiped away tears as his attorney put his arm around him.