Sarah Grace Patrick, 18, appeared in Carroll County court on Monday as her defense team requested a delay in her murder trial, asserting that new evidence has surfaced. Patrick, who was 16 when arrested in July 2025, faces charges of two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the February 20, 2025, shooting deaths of her mother, Kristin Brock, 41, and stepfather, James Brock, 45.
The couple was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside their Carrollton, Georgia, home. The trial had been scheduled to begin on August 3. However, Patrick's attorney, Shawn Hoover, informed the court that the defense needs additional time to process newly discovered information. Hoover specifically raised concerns about the lead investigator and another official, whom he described as a "rogue officer," allegedly bringing forth evidence previously unknown to the defense.
"We're in a murder trial, a double homicide," Hoover stated. "And now rogue officers are bringing in evidence that no one knew before." The attorney also indicated a need to further investigate the forensic processes conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Prosecutors, however, have denied claims of an officer acting improperly, stating that an officer tested a gun that was found not to be involved in the case.
The judge is currently reviewing the request for a trial delay and is expected to issue a decision by Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday. Patrick is being tried as an adult, and her attorney emphasized the necessity of adequate time to "protect Ms. Patrick's interests moving forward."
Prior to her arrest, which police said was based on substantial digital and physical evidence, Patrick, a high school graduate, had presented herself on social media as grieving the loss of her parents. She reportedly contacted true crime content creators on TikTok for assistance in "solving" their murders. While Patrick has not formally entered a plea, she is understood to deny the charges. Her supporters, including her lawyer, maintain her innocence.
Investigators stated that Kristin and James Brock were shot and killed while they slept in their home. Patrick was present in the house at the time of the killings and made the 911 call after her then-five-year-old half-sister discovered the bodies. The deaths initially presented as a tragic mystery with no immediate suspects or leads.
In the months following the murders, Patrick shared her grief publicly, delivering a eulogy at the funeral and posting TikTok videos about her parents' deaths. While some acquaintances and investigators found her public displays of mourning suspicious, her supporters attribute them to natural grief.