By Emily Ingram

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Three people have been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a Central Texas man.

John Tarrell Hopkins, 26, was arrested Monday on a capital murder charge and an unidentified 15-year-old juvenile on a murder charge in the killing of Gatesville resident James M. Grant, according to a Coryell County Sheriff’s Department release. Grant’s ex-wife, Leslie Megan Lewis-Grant, 43, was arrested and charged with tampering with/fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony, the release said.

Coryell County Sheriff Johnny Burks would not comment Tuesday on the relationships between Hopkins, Lewis-Grant and the juvenile, nor their connection to Grant.

Grant’s body was found wrapped in a sheet shortly before 5 a.m. Sept. 15 on a Coryell County road. A white extended cab pickup truck was parked nearby in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic with its lights on, according to arrest warrant affidavits. Investigators determined Grant, 44, had been killed at his home east of Gatesville, and his body was later moved.

The arrest documents said Hopkins confessed to killing Grant during a jail interview with sheriff’s investigators.

Grant’s son, who is unnamed in the documents, called Hopkins one night and said his father was sleeping, the documents stated. Hopkins came to Grant’s house on Rocky Road in Gatesville and went into Grant’s bedroom.

While Grant’s son was waiting in the hallway, Hopkins stole a 9 mm handgun and some cash from Grant’s wallet, then said a prayer and stabbed him in his sleep, the documents stated.

Grant’s son came into the room and stomped on his father’s chest before the two picked up Grant’s body and loaded it into the back of a white Chevrolet truck, according to the arrest documents. Hopkins and Grant’s son cleaned themselves up while Lewis-Grant took their bloody clothing and burned them, later stuffing them into garbage bags Hopkins threw away in two different locations, the arrest documents said.

Police didn’t give a motive for the killing.

Burks said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be brought against the three.

In a sheriff’s office press release, Grant’s family spoke out for the first time about the killing.

“We loved Michael dearly and will forever mourn the loss of his life,” the family said in the release. “We pray for accountability and justice. We ask that you respect our privacy as we grieve. Our family will be making no further comment.”

Hopkins was being held at the Coryell County Jail Tuesday night in lieu of $1,052,500 bond, according to jail information. Lewis-Grant was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

The juvenile was being held at the Bell County Juvenile Justice Center.