Monday, November 12, 2007

Minister awaiting trial dies


November 12, 2007

Jacksonville

A minister awaiting trial on six counts of capital sexual battery has died, his attorney said.

The Rev. Robert Gray, a former pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, had been hospitalized since mid-October, and suffered from a variety of health problems. He was 81.

Attorney David Barksdale, who represented Gray, released a statement saying that Gray's family prays that everyone involved in the court cases can find peace. The family would not comment further.

Gray was arrested in May 2006 and again two months later when more charges surfaced. More than 20 women have come forward with accusations against Gray, but the statute of limitations had expired in most cases.

The charges involved four women who say Gray molested them when they were children during the 1970s.



Helen Eckinger and Etan Horowitz of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Information from the Associated Press also was used.

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