By Tim Woods

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A Coryell County teen pleaded guilty Monday to murder in his father’s stabbing death.

James Michael Grant Jr., 16, was arrested Oct. 29 and certified in March to stand trial as an adult.

James Michael Grant Sr.’s body was found Sept. 15, 2007, on a county road, and investigators learned that he had been stabbed to death in his Gatesville home before being dumped next to the road, authorities said.

The younger Grant; his mother, Leslie Megan Lewis-Grant, and John Tarrell Hopkins were arrested in the killing.

Hopkins confessed to the slaying in a jail interview with sheriff’s investigators, according to arrest documents.

The younger Grant called Hopkins one night when the elder Grant had fallen asleep, and Hopkins came to the home, according to court documents.

As the younger Grant waited in the hall, Hopkins took a 9 mm handgun and some money from Grant Sr.’s wallet, said a prayer and stabbed the elder Grant in his sleep, the documents said.

The younger Grant then entered the room and stomped on his father’s chest before he and Hopkins carried the body to the back of a white Chevrolet pickup, the arrest documents stated.

The two cleaned themselves while Lewis-Grant burned their bloody clothing, later placing the remains of the clothes into trash bags that Hopkins disposed of, court documents said.

The trial’s punishment phase begins Wednesday in Coryell County’s 52nd District Court, a court official said.

A Coryell County Jail spokesman said Lewis-Grant was being held in lieu of $600,000 bond on charges of retaliation and capital murder Monday. Her trial is set to begin in December, the court administrator said.

The jail spokesman said Hopkins was being held in lieu of $1.05 million bail on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

twoods@wacotrib.com

757-5721