An 18-year-old Sitka man has been charged with four counts of murder, accused of killing his grandparents and two other people at their home.

District Court Magistrate Bruce Horton ordered Jason Alex Abbott held on $1 million bail during a preliminary hearing.

He will be transferred to a state correctional facility in Juneau for security reasons.

Abbott's attorney, public defender Jude Pate, says he would ``defend my client's constitutional rights.''

Some of the victims were identified as grandparents and homeowners Alice Abbott, who would have turned 69 on Friday, and her husband, 69-year-old John D. Abbott.

Police say 37-year-old Charles Tate, whose relationship to the Abbott family hasn't been established, was another victim.

The identities of both the fourth victim and a survivor have not been released.

The stabbings occurred Tuesday, about 30 hours after Abbott was released on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an incident involving his mother.

Abbott is thin, with boyish looks, a shaved head and what appears to be homemade tattoos on both forearms.

Police say he also faces one count of attempted murder for injuring a fifth person, a woman who is hospitalized is in serious but stable condition.

(Associated Press)