Sarah Grace Patrick, 17, has been charged as an adult for the double murder of her stepfather, James Brock, and mother, Kristin Brock, on February 20, 2025. She is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Her case is raising concerns about how the system handles juvenile mental health and young offenders.
Double Homicide Case
Patrick was 16 at the time of her mother and stepfather’s deaths. Patrick’s 5-year-old sister, Jaley, discovered them, with gunshot wounds in their Georgia home. They called 911, and the teen made a social media post on TikTok stating, “I can’t help but hate myself because I didn’t wake up to find them before my five-year-old sister had to find her parents like that.” She added that, “It hits me when I see my five-year-old sister screaming for her mommy and daddy.”
The Carroll County officials arrested her in early July after they presented physical and digital evidence of her crimes, forcing her to turn herself in. Patrick’s biological father, Doniel, is convinced she is innocent. He took to Facebook following the murders, stating, “I’ll always be in your corner.” He added, “Never doubt your place in this world. You were sent here with purpose, wrapped in grace and born to shine in ways only your soul knows how.”
Glimpse into Childhood
Doniel Patrick filed for divorce in 2018 from Kristin Brock. They were married for 10 years and had two children, Sarah and Donnie. Doniel sought primary physical custody of both minor children and requested that all visits be supervised until Kristin could prove she was clean of all drugs and alcohol. He lost the custody battle with the divorce settlement, relinquishing rights to the mother.
In November 2019, Doniel filed an emergency custody application alleging Kristen and her then-boyfriend, James Brock, exposed the children to drug use. At age 11, Sarah confirmed the use of drugs in the house when the police investigated the situation. “I, Sarah Grace Patrick, am 11 years old and love both of my parents very much,” she stated in the appeal. “I really want to live with my father. On December 12, 2019, my mother said I could finally live with my father after I told her.”
The inconsistency of Sarah’s childhood continued throughout the years until now, when the double homicide took place. She grew up in a seemingly unstable household, in the middle of a hostile divorce and custody battle. She cried out for help on TikTok frequently, but her cries were never answered. The system failed her by putting her back in the hands of her mother on multiple occasions, and in turn, has failed James Brock and Kristin Brock.
Experts Weigh In
Following Patrick’s arrest, a criminology expert recommended she remain in custody for the safety of herself and others. “What’s really unsettling for a lot of people is this 17-year-old girl. We don’t expect a child to be involved in a double homicide. We expect a 17-year-old should be going to school, learning, growing, developing, setting goals, interacting with friends,” Dr. Debbie Goodman said.
The expert cited several factors from cases in which juveniles murdered their parents, including mental health issues or a history of physical and sexual abuse. She noted that the investigation will most likely uncover the teen’s motive, but regardless, she should remain in custody to protect herself and others.
Psychology expert Dr. Sue Cornbluth agreed with Dr. Goodman’s observations and said, “This is a young lady who has had tremendous trauma, it appears, in her life. There was a contentious divorce going on with her parents, drugs and alcohol involved.” She brought attention to Patrick’s social media activity, specifically on TikTok, where she shows “a need for excessive attention.”
She noted her concern stems from the fact that Patrick shows serious mental health issues on her social media that have gone unchecked. “It seems to me she was just living inside her head. She probably had no one to talk to about what was going on in her world. She was on the move a lot, going from home to home,” Cornbluth said.
The Investigation Continues
As Patrick’s case progresses and the investigation continues, more information will be released. All aspects of her life will be dug up and evaluated due to the severity of the crimes committed. Once those facts are revealed, it will allow officials to determine the motive and level of competency Patrick will have during court proceedings. The experts believe her being in custody is the safest option until the teen can undergo proper mental health evaluations. Her bond hearing is scheduled for August 19, 2025.
