Mother of Joran van der Sloot Cannot Defend her Troubled Son

INSIDE EDITION reports on Joran van der Sloot's mother, who stood by her son when he was a suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, but now says he is sick in the head and may be a killer after all.

Joran van der Sloot's mother says her son is "sick in the head" and "psychologically disturbed."

Anita van der Sloot, who stood by her son when he was suspected in Natalee Holloway's disappearance, now believes, according to reports, that he may have killed Stephany Flores.

"If he killed Stephany, he will have to carry the burden," she told a Dutch newspaper.  "I will not visit him in his cell.  I cannot embrace him.  It's time to let him go. I cannot cry for Joran."

She still insists he did not kill Natalee five years ago, but says being accused in that case started him on a downward spiral.

She revealed that 23-year-old Joran refused psychiatric help before leaving Aruba for his fateful trip to Peru.

Van der Sloot appeared in court in Peru for his second time Monday.

He has retracted his confession to murdering 21-year-old Stephany Flores, and told a Dutch newspaper he is being framed.

"I was frightened and confused during the interrogation," he said.  "In my blind panic I signed everything, but I didn't know what had been written down."