The parents of the Seminole Heights murder suspect were found in contempt Friday for refusing to answer questions and placed under house arrest.

A judge said Rosita and Howell Donaldson Jr. should be under house arrest for no longer than five months, wearing GPS monitors.

Howell Donaldson III is facing four counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths last fall of four Seminole Heights residents.

Ever since his arrest in November, the parents have refused to answer questions in the case against their son.

On Friday, the parents didn't show up to court at the scheduled 9 a.m. time. The attorney for the parents took responsibility for that, saying the father has a heart condition. The parents reported to court shortly before 10 a.m.

One of the conditions to the house arrest will be exceptions for religious, employment and medical purposes, according to the Friday ruling.

Prosecutors in the case plan to seek the death penalty.

Spectrum News legal analyst Kevin Hayslett, who is not involved in the case, earlier said the Donaldsons have no protection under the law to refuse to answer questions.

He says they may be keeping quiet in an effort to strike up some sort of deal with prosecutors, that they'd offer their cooperation in exchange for their son's life.

He said those chances are slim. And if they refuse to talk, there will consequences.

"Their refusal to testify gives the job a couple options," Hayslett said. "The judge could fine the parents, could hold them in contempt and issue a house arrest order, put them under house arrest and even put them in county jail up to a year."