An indictment has been issued against the mother of a Georgia teenager accused of killing four people at his high school. Marcee Gray, 43, faces charges related to an alleged domestic incident from last year.
The charges, officially handed down on Monday in Ben Hill County, include exploiting an elderly person among other crimes. These charges are separate from the school shooting at Apalachee High School, which happened nearly 320 kilometres away.
Marcee Gray is the mother of Colt Gray, 14, who was charged with murder following his surrender to police on September 4. Authorities reported that Colt brought an assault-style rifle to school in his backpack, opening fire during morning classes. The attack resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers, with nine others injured.
The indictment against Marcee Gray relates to an incident from late last year. According to a police report, her 74 year old mother informed authorities on November 4 that Gray had taken her phone, taped her to a chair, and left her for almost a full day.
#BREAKING: #MarceeGray the mother of suspected #ApalacheeHighSchool shooter #ColtGray has been indicted on charges of elder abuse.
The indictment alleges that Marcee Gray taped her mother, Deborah Polhamus, to a chair and left her there for nearly 24 hours. She is charged with… pic.twitter.com/nkLKTfit3Y
— 𝕏 🕵🏻♀️🦋L̤̮E̤̮G̤̮🅰️C̤̮Y̤̮🦋🕵🏻♀️ 𝕏 (@iamlegacy23) September 21, 2024
The report details that Gray bound her mother before travelling to Barrow County to confront her ex-husband, who was residing with their son and two other children. Records show that Gray was arrested in Barrow County on November 6, two days after her mother was found.
She later pleaded guilty to charges of criminal trespassing, using a license plate to disguise her vehicle, and causing property damage, receiving a 45-day jail sentence.
Attempts to reach Gray at possible phone numbers on Saturday were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear if she has legal representation.
Gray has previously stated that she called her son’s high school on the morning of the shootings to alert staff after receiving a text from Colt saying, “I’m sorry.” She later issued a statement asserting that her son “is not a monster.”
Colin Gray, the teenager’s father, also faces charges including involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Authorities allege he provided his son access to the rifle used in the shootings.
What Other Media Are Saying
- FOX News reports on the mother of the Apalachee High School shooting suspect charged with elder abuse, highlighting the ties to a severe family breakdown and warning calls to the school before the tragedy. (Read more)
- The Associated Press reports on the indictment of the mother of a Georgia teenager charged with fatally shooting four people at his high school, highlighting legal consequences and family entanglements. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What was Marcee Gray indicted for?
Exploiting an elderly person and other crimes.
Is Marcee Gray’s indictment related to the school shooting?
No, it is unrelated to the school shootings.
What did Colt Gray do at his high school?
He fatally shot four people and injured nine others.
What charges does Colt Gray’s father face?
Involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children.
What did Marcee Gray do to her mother?
She took her phone, taped her to a chair, and left her for nearly a day.
