Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth told North Carolina TV station WBTV that he wants a relationship with his son when he is released from prison later this year.

Carruth is serving an 18-year prison sentence for conspiracy to murder his pregnant girlfriend that left his son with cerebral palsy as a result of his premature birth.

On Monday he released to the public a letter he sent to Saundra Adams, the mother of his former girlfriend Cherica Adams and the caregiver of his now 18-year-old son Chancellor Adams, thanking her for caring for his son and also apologizing for the loss of Cherica Adams and the impairment of his son.

"I'm apologizing for the loss of her daughter. I'm apologizing for the impairment of my son," Carruth told WBTV a North Carolina television station he released the letter to. "I feel responsible for everything that happened. And I just want her to know that truly I am sorry for everything."

Carruth also said that he would like custody of his son once he’s released from prison.

"I should be raising my son. His mother should be raising her son," Carruth said. "Ms. Adams should not be doing this and I want that responsibility back.

"I feel like he might not ever have his mother in his life but he could still have me and I could still make a difference and I don't think that's anyone's responsibility when I'm still here."