Authorities have charged the mother of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray in south-central Georgia with felony elder abuse after they say he taped her to a chair for about 24 hours, local reports said.
Marcy Gray was accused in Ben Hill County Court of recording Deborah Polhamus at her Fitzgerald home in November 2023, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Reported Saturday.
Polhamus, who was 73 at the time, reportedly remained in that position for nearly 24 hours until Annie Brown, a Florida resident and reportedly one of Polhamus' daughters, sent in a friend who reportedly lived in Fitzgerald.
Citing reports of the incident, the media reported that Brown had become concerned when she had not heard from Polhamus and asked a friend to check on him.
Gray was upset with Polhamus because Polhamus, who is in his 70s, refused to travel to Barrow County to confront Gray's ex-husband, Collin, Polhamus told Fitzgerald police. According to WSB-TV Atlanta News: Gray reportedly said he would call his father to release Polhamus after his arrest, but Polhamus was not released by Brown's friends for nearly 24 hours, according to the report.
BREAKING: Apalachee shooting suspect's mother indicted on elder abuse charges. https://t.co/2xemmJK02E
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) September 21, 2024
“Marcy became agitated and told Deborah she was going to kill her ex-husband and wanted her to go with him,” the incident report read, according to WSB-TV. “Deborah refused to go, so Marcy threw her against a wall, causing a cut on her left wrist. Marcy stated that since Deborah wouldn't go, she was going to tie her to a chair and take her cell phone so she couldn't call anyone.”
Gray is also accused of taking Polhamus' iPhone and breaking a bathroom mirror and a back door to the home, according to the outlet.
Officers reportedly arrested Gray in Barrow County and took him to Ben Hill County in December 2023. The outlet also reported that Gray was released in April 2024 on $5,300 bail. (Related article: Five-star nursing home allegedly engaged in elder abuse against legendary educator)
Marcy Gray, who is currently charged with exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults and the elderly, false imprisonment, second-degree criminal damage and theft, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, WSB-TV reported.
Polhamus told police he didn't want to see Marcy remain a felon for the rest of her life, but he wanted Gray to be punished and for her to seek help to break her drug addiction, the New York Post reported. Reported.
Gray's son, Colt, 14, is charged with murder in the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder in northern Georgia that left two teachers and two students dead and nine injured.
Colt's father, Collin, 54, has also been charged in connection to the shooting.
Colt had sent a cryptic message to his parents before the shooting saying, “I'm sorry,” and another message to his father the morning of the shooting saying, “It's not your fault.” According to WSB Television.
The text message reportedly alerted Gray to the school to check on her son before the shooting.
