The parents of a college student who was beaten into a coma during a bar fight say they want the suspect to return to the U.S. to face justice.

Richard and Marlene Steinhauer spoke at a news conference Thursday about their son Bryan. They say he is slowly coming out of his coma and has begun to recognize friends and family.

?There [are] times when he seems to get a little more conscious of his situation and starts yelling and screaming and crying,? says Richard Steinhauer.

The 22-year-old college student attended SUNY Binghamton and was weeks away from graduating when police say he was assaulted May 4 by three college classmates.

One of those alleged in the beating is Binghamton University basketball player Miladin Kovacevic, who police say slipped away to Serbia while out on bail, angering U.S. officials and Steinhauer's family.

They want Serbia to send the 6-foot-9 hoops player back to America, but the government has refused. A lawyer for Kovacevic has said that he fled to Serbia because he was afraid of the U.S. judicial system.

If convicted in the U.S., Kovacevic would face up to 25 years in prison.

To watch the news conference with parents of student allegedly beaten by Serb national, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.