Robert Bales' Wife: I Don't Think He Killed Them

When Karilyn Bales first heard that the US soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians was a 38-year-old staff sergeant, it occurred to her that "I don't think there are very many of those," she told Matt Lauer on Today this morning, and she "prayed and prayed" that her husband Robert Bales wasn't the suspect. Even after being told by military officials that he was, she still insists, "I just don't think he was involved." But she doesn't "know enough information" to expand on any theories beyond her belief that "this is not what it appears to be. … This is not him. It's not him."

Karilyn called the accusations, including accusations that Robert killed nine children, "unbelievable." "He loves children, he's like a big kid himself," she said; the couple has two children. "I have no idea what happened, but he would not ... he loves children, and he would not do that. It's heartbreaking. I can't imagine losing my children, so my heart definitely goes out to them for losing all of their children." She has spoken to Bales twice since he was detained, and said he "seemed a bit confused" during both phone calls, but they did not discuss the allegations. (More Robert Bales stories.)