Gray Jr. is charged only in Knox County. But his parents face prosecution in both Knox and Roane counties. In fact, District Attorney General Russell Johnson has filed notice he s ready to seek the death penalty against the elder Gray if the case goes to trial in Roane County.
Authorities learned about the family s alleged crimes in May 2020 after one of the adoptive children, a boy, was found wandering on a Roane County road down from his home.
Investigative interviews led to the discovery of the remains of an adoptive girl, Sophie Gray, on the Grays property in the Ten Mile community of Roane County. Sophie is thought to have died in early 2017 after years of abuse and neglect.
Destiny Oliver was shot and killed in September 2019. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 4:26 PM EDT April 29, 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Knox County prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke bond for a Fountain City woman accused of killing her 5-year-old daughter in 2019.
Robin Howington, 38, tested positive April 7 for Oxazepam, a prescription anxiety medication, and marijuana, court records state. She told Knox County Pretrial Services personnel she had a prescription for the medicine but hasn t been able to provide proof of that, a prosecution motion states.
She also was supposed to be wearing a GPS ankle monitor to track her whereabouts as part of her condition for remaining free pending trial. But the GPS monitor was removed after she was taken into custody in Sullivan County on April 8 on unrelated charges.
He faces a minimum term of 25 years without the chance for parole.
Gouge had known the child from an early age, according to the prosecution.
The state alleged Gouge s assaults on the victim started when the child was age 9 and continued until she turned age 12.
By April 2019, when the victim was 15, the state Department of Children s Services learned of the abuse. The Knoxville Police Department investigated and arrested Gouge.
Judge Kyle Hixson will impose sentence.
According to Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen s office, prosecutors will seek the maximum time allowed under the law for Gouge.
Rape of a child carries 25 to 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole. For Gouge, each aggravated sexual battery count means another potential eight to 12 years in prison, according to the DA s Office.
Driving a Ford Explorer on Washington Pike, Harper struck and killed the two people. The crash was so violent Thornell s fetus was ejected from her body, evidence showed.
Harper continued on to the nearby apartment complex where he lived. Knoxville police eventually tracked down his Explorer, and Harper was charged.
He was convicted of three counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, among other charges.
Crews on scene of a double fatal hit-and-run on Washington Pike. 5/30/12
But the defense appealed, arguing Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz had improperly let in crime scene and autopsy photos that were too gory. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals agreed in 2015, sending the case back for a retrial.