Yvette Rafferty says her son was exploited by his mentor, 52-year-old pastor Rich Beasley

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The teen charged in connection with a spate of Ohio "Craigslist killings" is innocent and being exploited by his mentor, his mother says.

Yvette Rafferty told ABC's Good Morning America that her son Brogan, 16, was not involved in the murders of at least three men who were found dead after responding to a Craiglist ad purporting to seek laborers for a cattle farm.

She claims her son simply "made a bad decision hanging around the wrong person," 52-year-old pastor Rich Beasley, who was also taken into custody when cops discovered at least three bodies in shallow Ohio graves.

"Brogan looked up to Chaplain Rich Beasley," Yvette Rafferty said. "For 10 years now he's been taking the church and Bible studies...I know one thing, my son told me that he didn't do it. And I believe it. There is a monster here. But it's not my son.

"I believe he put his trust in someone in...he's a very smart kid but sometimes when you're not seeing the whole picture, you just believe...that that person is going to lead you in the right way," she told ABC.

Brogan is charged with attempted murder and complicity to attempt murder. Beasley has not been charged with murder but is being held on $1 million bail for separate drug and prostitution charges.

Police believe the motive for the killings was robbery. Respondents to the ad were instructed to bring all of their belongings when they moved to the farm - which does not exist.

Three men have so far been linked to the ad. Scott Davis was shot in the arm after he visited the property in reponse to the ad, but fled successfully and hid in the woods until he got help.

David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, VA, responded to the same ad, according to his family, and was found dead in the area.

47-year-old Timothy Kern, of Massillon, OH, told his family he'd been hired for a job he found on Craiglist. He was found nearby, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Another body, not yet identified, is believed to be linked to the scheme.

"He's a scared kid," Yvette Rafferty said of her son, a high school junior, who is being held in a juvenile detention facility.

Beasley is placing blame on Brogan, acording to his attorney Rhonda Kotnik. "He's just disappointed that the kid is saying things about him," she said.