Tearful mother of boy who murdered love rival blames her 'abusive' ex-husband for turning him into a killer - as court is told he was traumatized by their divorce

• The mother of convicted killer Michael Bargo testified at his sentencing hearing today
• Tracey O'Brien told the court that Bargo's father was an abusive alcoholic who encouraged the boy to demean his mother
• Bargo is facing the death penalty for the gruesome murder of 15-year-old Seath Jackson in 2011 

By Alex Greig
Updated: 04:54 EST, 28 August 2013

The mother of 21-year-old killer took the stand today and blamed her ex-husband for her son's troubled childhood that she claims led him to murder, telling Michael Bargo, Sr, 'It's your fault.'

Tracey O'Brien, 38, said her son, Michael Bargo, Jr, who was found guilty of masterminding the killing of 15-year-old Seath Jackson in 2011, had grown up with an alcoholic father with an explosive temper.

His lawyers are trying to avoid the death penalty by arguing that Michael Bargo, Jr suffered abuse at the hands of his mother and was traumatized by his parents' divorce.

Devastated: A court heard testimony from convicted murderer Michael Bargo's mother Tracey O'Brien yesterday as the jury decided what sentence to recommend

Tracey O'Brien, 38, wept throughout her testimony as the prosecutor questioned her about Michael Bargo, Jr's childhood and her marriage to his father, Michael Bargo, Sr.

The devastated mother was summonsed to the Florida court from her home in Michigan to testify at her son's sentencing hearing.

O'Brien reportedly did not testify at her son's murder trial because, according to testimony from Bargo, Sr, her son didn't want her there.

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She told the court that the hearing was the first time she'd seen her son in four years and detailed her unhappy marriage with Bargo, Sr, who she described as an abusive alcoholic who regularly lashed out in anger.

'He would throw dinner if it wasn't warm, or I said something wrong or we got into an argument, he would start throwing things,' she said.

Convicted killer: Michael Bargo was convicted in less than three hours for his part in the 2011 murder of Seath Jackson. A jury late yesterday decided he deserved the death sentence

Disturbing: Seath Tyler Jackson was brutally murdered and his body burned in a pit. His remains were then shovelled into paint cans and thrown in a dumpster

As his son grew older, Bargo, Sr would encourage the boy to demean and disrespect his mother. She recalled arriving home to find that her son had scrawled 'Tracey is a whore' on the front driveway of their house.

When Bargo, Jr was 14 his father moved to Florida. During that time, the teen was diagnosed with ADD but his father would encourage him not to take his prescription Ritalin. 

Bargo, Jr would explode in fits of uncontrollable rage that O'Brien couldn't control, having to call the police a number of times, she told the court.

Bargo, Sr began to call Social Services in an effort to discredit O'Brien as a parent and gain custody of his son.

She testified that Bargo, Sr put through so many false calls about her, he was eventually told that if he called again he would be charged for filing a false report.

The father owed more than $20,000 in child support for Bargo, Jr, which O'Brien never received.

Eventually, when Bargo, Jr was 16, he went to live with his father in Florida.

Callous crime: Michael Bargo (left), and Charlie Ely (right) were both convicted for Seath Jackson's murder

Associates: Justin Soto (left) was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, while James Young Havens III, was eventually found not to have been involved in the crime

Ex-girlfriend: Amber Wright (left) and her step-brother Kyle Hooper (right) were both sentenced to life in prison without parole

Six people were arrested in connection to the brutal murder of Seath Jackson and four have already been convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Bargo is the only one who faces the death penalty.

Jackson was lured to a home in 2011 by his ex-girlfriend Amber Wright under the pretense of rekindling their relationship.

Once Jackson arrived at the house, her new boyfriend Bargo, along with Wright, Justin Soto, Charlie K Ely and Kyle Hooper beat him, shot him multiple times, tied him up, broke his knees and burned his body alive, disposing of his remains in paint cans which they threw into a quarry.

Relieved: The parents of Seath Jackson, Sonia (center) and Scott Jackson were pleased when their son's killer was found guilty of his murder last week

Scene: 13890 Southeast 53rd Ave in Summerfield where Seath Tyler Jackson, 15, was beaten, shot and burned to death

Troubled teen: Michael Bargo listens to his mother talk about his life leading up to the murder of Seath Jackson in 2011

Tracey O'Brien told the court that until she found out about the horrific crime, she had been under the impression that her son was thriving in Florida.

His father would lie to O'Brien, telling her everything was fine and that Bargo, Jr was doing well at school when in fact the teen had dropped out.

Bargo, Sr neglected to tell O'Brien that her son wasn't even living at home and that he was on drugs and drinking heavily.

'Every time I would ask about Michael, everything was great,' she said.

As the prosecutor wound up his questioning, O'Brien looked out into the courtroom at Michael Bargo, Sr and, almost choking on her tears, said, 'It's your fault.'

According to WFTV reporter Jeff Deal, Michael Bargo, Sr nodded his head at this comment.

If sentenced to death, Bargo, 21, will become the youngest inmate currently on death row in the state of Florida.