Sarah Grace Patrick: No bond, judge believes teen could be flight risk

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. - A Carroll County teenager accused of killing her mother and stepfather was denied bond Tuesday morning after an emotional hearing that included passionate testimony from both supporters and grieving family members.

What we know:

Seventeen-year-old Sarah Grace Patrick has been behind bars since July 8, when she turned herself in on charges of murdering her mother, Kristen Brock, 41, and stepfather, James Brock, 45. The couple was found shot to death inside their Carrollton Tyus Road home on Feb. 20 after Patrick’s 5-year-old sister reportedly discovered their bodies and the teen called 911.

What they're saying:

During the two-hour bond hearing, Patrick’s supporters described her as a church-going young woman with no prior criminal history and asked the court to allow her to await trial at home with family. Her pastor told the court Patrick had "made a personal decision to be baptized" and "continued to attend services regularly," even calling him from jail to pray. "She didn’t just show up on Sundays… She clearly found a place where she felt at home," he testified.

PREVIOUS STORY: 17-year-old daughter arrested for parents' murders in Carroll County

Several family friends echoed his account, describing Patrick as respectful, hardworking and deeply rooted in her Christian faith. One supporter told the judge, "Hurting someone simply isn’t in her nature or character… she remained incredibly kind, respectful, and especially patient."

But prosecutors argued she posed a significant risk to flee and could potentially intimidate witnesses — particularly her younger sister, who they say is a key witness in the case. Relatives from her stepfather’s side of the family pleaded with the judge to keep her behind bars.

"If the defendant can kill her own parents in such a violent manner, I fear for my own safety and the safety of my family and friends," said Kim Bowling, the victims’ sister, adding: "I urge you to consider this in your decision." Patrick’s older stepbrother, Trysten Brock, shed tears as he called his father "my Superman," and warned that she would "absolutely attempt to flee rather than stand trial if given the opportunity."

Judge Hightower agreed with prosecutors’ concerns, reminding courtroom spectators: "This is not daytime court TV and this is not for entertainment. We're here to simply apply the law... and I’m going to do that to the best of my ability." He ultimately ruled that Patrick must remain jailed, citing a potential "significant flight risk" and "risk of witness intimidation."

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What's next:

Judge Hightower also promised Patrick a speedy trial, setting a date of Jan. 5, 2026, if she is indicted by a grand jury for the murders. 

Killed in their own home

The backstory:

James Brock, 45, and Kristen Brock, 41, were found shot to death inside their home on Carrollton Tyus Road near Cottage Way on the morning of Feb. 20. 

In the days following the shooting, authorities said the couple were discovered with apparent gunshot wounds, and although there was no immediate evidence of forced entry, one door had been left ajar. 

Sarah Grace Patrick turns herself in

On July 8, Patrick turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest and was charged as an adult with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection to the killings of her mother and stepfather. 

Authorities say Patrick was the one who contacted emergency services after her younger sister discovered the couple shot to death inside their home.

While police said Patrick's digital footprint is what led to her arrest, they did not give FOX 5 specifics.

Sarah Grace reportedly reached out to influencers

Dig deeper:

In the months that followed, Patrick reportedly reached out to multiple TikTok influencers to bring attention to the case, according to People.com. 

Screenshots shared by content creator "Allegedly Reportedly" show that a user named "Sarah Grace" contacted her in June, writing: "Search up Brock case. They’re my parents and out of nowhere a random Thursday night in Feb someone came in my house with me and my 5-year-old sister and shot my parents brutally leaving them for me and my little sister to wake up to."

In one message, the account believed to belong to Patrick reportedly said media coverage of the murder "would be a really big hit." In another comment under a video speculating that the killer knew the victims, the user responded, "Most definitely was since they knew the house."

The user’s account has since been deleted, and it has not been officially confirmed whether Patrick operated the account. 

Defended by grandfather

The other side:

Patrick’s grandfather, Dennis Nolan, has publicly defended her innocence and questioned the strength of the case.

 "It’s all speculative stuff... Nothing puts the gun in her hand. They don’t have the gun," he said in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta. 

Nolan described his granddaughter as distraught after her arrest, saying her first phone call from jail was filled with desperation. 

"What are they doing to me? Why are they doing this to me? I didn’t do anything," she reportedly told him.

Nolan acknowledged that Patrick had expressed a desire to live with her biological father, describing him as more lenient. "She was better off with Kristin and James," he said, adding that he is standing by his granddaughter until proven otherwise. "Unless something has changed, you are innocent until proven guilty."