Couple Pleads Guilty in Knox, Roane County Child Abuse Cases

Left to right: Michael Gray Sr. and Shirley Gray. The couple was indicted in Knox County on felony murder, child abuse, neglect and abuse of a corpse charges on Oct. 28, 2020.

Couple Pleads Guilty in Knox, Roane County Child Abuse Cases

Roane County, TN (WOKI) A Roane County couple will spend the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole.

Michael Gray, Sr. and Shirley Gray both waived their right to a trial and pleaded guilty to child abuse and felony murder charges in a Roane County courtroom Tuesday, May 14. The two had been involved in a years long abuse and murder case involving their four adopted children.

Authorities say the couple severely abused two of their children. They also discovered the bodies of the Gray’s eleven year old adopted daughter buried in their backyard and the body of their other adopted child, a six year old, buried behind their biological son’s Knox County home.

The Grays were sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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Couple Pleads Guilty in Knox, Roane County Child Abuse Cases

Left to right: Michael Gray Sr. and Shirley Gray. The couple was indicted in Knox County on felony murder, child abuse, neglect and abuse of a corpse charges on Oct. 28, 2020.

Couple Pleads Guilty in Knox, Roane County Child Abuse Cases

Roane County, TN (WOKI) A Roane County couple will spend the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole.

Michael Gray, Sr. and Shirley Gray both waived their right to a trial and pleaded guilty to child abuse and felony murder charges in a Roane County courtroom Tuesday, May 14. The two had been involved in a years long abuse and murder case involving their four adopted children.

Authorities say the couple severely abused two of their children. They also discovered the bodies of the Gray’s eleven year old adopted daughter buried in their backyard and the body of their other adopted child, a six year old, buried behind their biological son’s Knox County home.

The Grays were sentenced to life in prison without parole.