Mother of Apalachee High School shooter charged with elder abuse

The Georgia woman whose 14-year-old son shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School earlier this month is accused of tying her elderly mother to a chair, stealing her cellphone and then leaving her alone for nearly 24 hours.

Marcee Gray, 43, was charged in Ben Hill County court with exploitation and intimidation of a disabled or elderly person, false imprisonment, criminal damage and theft, the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported Saturday.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

The charges stem from a domestic violence incident involving Gray and her mother, Deborah Polhamus, which occurred on November 3, 2023, according to an incident report.

The following day, Polhamus, then 74, told police that her daughter had become angry because she had refused to accompany her on a trip to Barrow County, where Marcee's ex-husband, Colin Gray, lived with their three children.

“Marcee became angry and told Deborah that she was going to force her to go with her because she was going to kill her ex,” the incident report states. “Deborah stated she refused to go and Marcee threw her against the wall, resulting in a cut on her left wrist.”

In addition to tying her mother to a chair, Gray is said to have stolen her cellphone so she couldn't call for help. He then broke a bathroom mirror and the back door of her mother's home in Fitzgerald.

It's unclear why Gray was so keen to confront her ex at the time, even though family members and neighbors have long described their relationship as “toxic” and turbulent.

Polhamus was not released until the next day because her other daughter, who lives in Florida, was worried about not being able to contact her. She contacted a friend and asked her to check on Polhamus' home. There they found her tied to a chair with duct tape around her ankles and wrists.

Polhamus suffered a wrist injury and bruising after the incident, but told authorities she “did not want Marcee to remain a felon for the rest of her life,” the incident report states. “Deborah stated that she agreed that Marcee must be punished for what she [had] done, but she wanted Marcee to get help for her drug addiction.”

Gray – who has a lengthy criminal record dating back to at least 2007, including charges of driving under the influence, domestic violence and drug possession – was arrested in Barrow County on Nov. 6, two days after her mother was found. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to trespassing, using a license plate to disguise her car and criminal damage to property.

It is unclear why the more serious charges were filed in connection with last week's incident. Calls to Fitzgerald police went unanswered Saturday.

Earlier this month, Marcee Gray's son, 14-year-old Colt Gray, opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, killing two math teachers and two students before surrendering to a school security guard. He was charged with four counts of murder.

The victims have since been identified as Richard Aspinwall, 39, Christina Irimie, 53, and Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old.

Gray's ex-husband, 54-year-old Colin Gray, has also been charged in connection with the shooting. He is accused of giving his teenage son the AR-style rifle he used in his attack, despite previously being questioned by police about threatening to shoot at a school.

With News Wire Services

Originally published: September 21, 2024 at 3:48 pm