A Georgia teen who faces murder charges in the February shooting deaths of her parents allegedly used social media and a tearful funeral speech to try and cover her tracks.
Police said that Sarah Grace Patrick, 17, shot her parents to death and later called 911 after their bodies were found by her 5-year-old sister. Patrick's mother, Kristen Brock, 41, and her stepfather James Brock, 45 were found in their bedroom.
Carroll County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Ashley Hulsey said said police had "mountains of evidence" and that led to Patrick. In a press conference, Hulsey did not discuss details of the case, describing it as an active and open investigation.
The New York Post reported that authorities said that Patrick attempted to cover her tracks publicly, including a tearful speech at her parent's funeral. During the press conference, Hulsey was asked about social media posts made on behalf of Patrick in the aftermath of her parent's deaths and whether police suspected that she had put people up to making posts in an attempt to cover her tracks.
"Considering that she didn't immediately tell us what happened, yes," Hulsey said. "But who knows what's going on in a young person's mind."
Hulsey added that the investigation is ongoing, and police are determining whether anyone else was involved.
Hulsey said that since the slaying, Patrick has been staying at the homes of various relatives. She described the case as "horrific and sad."
"A little girl who was in the home, to me, she is probably the saddest victim in all of this," Hulsey said, referring to Patrick's little sister who is now 6.
Patrick was charged as an adult. Hulsey said that investigators were still exploring possible motives for the slayings.
"We don't know what goes through the mind of a child who wants to harm their parents," Hulsey said.
