Court testimony resumed Monday with a bombshell in the murder trial of Stacey Gray. Gray is charged with the rape and murder of Renee Eldridge July 4, 2015. Jurors heard from SGT Sherman Hayes of the Columbus Police Department who was assigned to the case in June of 2021.
Detective Hayes said a search warrant was issued for a box of Stacey Gray’s personal belongings that was transferred from the Chambers County Jail to Muscogee County when he was extradited back to Columbus to face trial. The box contained books, drawings and writings. Hayes testified investigators discovered a letter tucked between the pages of a bible dated May 24, 2017. That letter written by Gray reads in part “I am guilty of these serious charges against me.”
The jury took several minutes to examine the full letter and two drawings. Both drawings depicted a female with horns in underwear with hands bound behind her back.
The defense suffered another blow when prosecutors called Detective Sandra Hickey to the stand. Hickey works in the Digital Forensic Unit for the Columbus Police Department and examined Stacey Gray’s cell phone. Hickey testified there is no data showing the phone was ever in Opelika, AL on July 4, 2015. Gray told police he was at a girlfriend’s house in Opelika during the time frame Renee Eldridge was murdered. Data from the cell phone showed otherwise.
Prosecutors expect to call two more witnesses before resting their case. Closing arguments could take place as early as Tuesday, November 25. Stacey Gray is charged with malice murder, felony murder, rape, kidnapping and aggravated assault for the death of Renee Eldridge.
