A Carroll County Superior Court Judge has denied a defense attorney’s request that the trial of accused murderer Sarah Grace Patrick – scheduled to begin January fifth of 2026 – be continued until the next trial calendar.
Teenager, Patrick is accused of shooting to death her mother – 41-year old Kristen Brock and stepfather, 45-year old James Brock. The couple was found deceased inside their Carrollton Tyus Road home on February 20th, 2025.
In her request for continuance – Attorney Latoya Williams states that defense counsel has yet to receive full discovery in this case. Williams claims that some missing items are of such importance that receiving them even the day the motion was filed would not afford defense counsel adequate time to fully prepare for January fifth, 2026.
The state responded to 10 individual claims made by the defense counsel, which were reviewed by the court – and the court determined that the ‘state is in compliance with its discovery obligations; and, that all necessary discovery will likely be provided sufficiently in advance of the January trial date to afford the defendant a fair trial.’
Among revelations in those court documents – are the claims by the state – that cameras in the room of the defendant – “were taken down in the days leading up to the shooting” and the “camera in the room of the victims was not operating at the time of the shooting.”
Patrick’s attorney has also filed a motion for change of venue – “due to presumptive and actual prejudice caused by extensive pre-trial publicity.”
Among the basis for change of venue, attorney Williams cites claims of national and regional media saturation; dedicated true crime attention focused on this case; inflammatory social media commentary from local residents; rumor based and false narrative spread; and, prejudice is particularly acute in smaller communities.
The defense requests that the trial be moved to a county where jurors have not been exposed to or have less exposure to prejudicial and inflammatory publicity.
Any decision on that motion was not available in court documents as of Wednesday morning.
