KINGSTON, Tennessee — A Roane County husband and wife pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday to abusing their adopted children, resulting in two deaths.
Michael, 67, and Shirley Gray, 64, killed their adoptive daughter Heather "Sophie" Gray, who was found buried on their Roane County property in May 2020. Authorities believe she died from starvation and abuse at the Gray home in early 2017.
In Knox County, the couple was separately accused in the killing of their adoptive son Jonathan Gray, who was found buried in the yard of a Halls home in May 2020. Authorities think the boy also died from abuse and had been dead since 2015 or 2016.
The couple pleaded guilty in both cases to felony murder. They will live the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ninth Judicial District Attorney Russell Johnson said the couple kept many of their adoptive children on limited diets and that the fridge was locked. Some were also deprived of reading and writing skills and kept in dog crates at times.
Food was often withheld from three of the adoptive children—two boys and a girl. After Sophie died, Michael Gray kept her body in a box until he could bury her. Both parents said the last time the three were looked over by a doctor all were diagnosed with "failure to thrive," according to Johnson.
Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said that most of the children never attended school, were forced to wear the same clothes, never bathed and were made to eat only bread and water.
One of the adoptive children, a girl, was spared the suffering imposed on the other four, the investigation showed.
Allen also noted that Jonathan Gray's remains were found in a trash bag buried near a peach tree at the Halls house.
Two of the Grays' adoptive children provided victim impact statements, either directly or through a representative.
The younger of the children said he can now enjoy school and real food.
"Your house was my prison," he told the Grays. "But now your house is your prison."
"I am very grateful that I had the courage to escape from the house," he added. "I love spaghetti and chocolate but when I lived with you I never got to eat anything but bread."
A representative spoke for the second victim. "You have stolen 15 years of my life and I am not going to give you another minute," his statement read.
A doctor confirmed that Michael Gray was competent to make the guilty plea, despite being diagnosed with a form of dementia.
The Grays' natural son, Michael Anthony Gray Jr., owned the home where Jonathan Gray's remains were found.
Michael Gray Jr. owned the house for about 11 years, records show. After Jonathan's remains were found in the yard, he was indicted with several counts in Knox County, including felony murder.
His case is separate from that of his parents. He faces a court hearing Friday in Knox County Criminal Court. He's not in custody, records show.
At the end of his statement, the Grays' younger victim said "even though you have done evil to me, I have forgiven you."
