BEACH CITY, Texas – In a news conference Wednesday morning, deputies said they have enough evidence to charge a 14-year-old boy with two counts of capital murder in the death of his grandparents.
On a street with ornate, cut-glass doors and million-dollar beachfront homes, there was shock and horror Tuesday night.
In the 11000 block of Cedar Gulley Road, Chambers County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the double murder of a retired husband and wife.
Chester, 72, and Sandra Bienek, 72, were both found lying in their own bed; both had been shot one time in the head.
The quiet couple was raising their 14-year-old grandson, who has autism, a relative said.
“They were both shot with a handgun, we believe with a handgun. There were no signs of forced entry or robbery or anything like that,” said Sheriff Brian Hawthorne.
Barbers Hill Junior High school noticed that the eigth grader skipped school Tuesday and as a part of a truancy check they sent an officer to check on him.
Deputies said the boy answered the door and said he was sick, but when deputies asked to speak with his grandparents, he told them that they were at the grocery store.
School officials called the house later to attempt to talk with the boy’s grandparents and that is when the boy acted as if he was the grandfather, according to officials.
After further questioning, the boy said that his grandmother had blood on her, deputies said.
Alarmed, officials called the Sheriff’s Department around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
The district released the following statement after the boy's absence:
"Barbers Hill ISD learned that the grandparents of one of our students passed away yesterday. The situation is under investigation by Chambers County Sheriff’s Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with this student and his family during this very difficult time."
Upon investigation, deputies found a 45 caliber gun inside the home.
The Jefferson County Medical Examiner's office determined approximate time of death to be late Sunday night or early Monday morning, officials said.
Deputies said they are not sure what the motive was behind the shooting.
The boy is now in the Harden County juvenile-detention center awaiting his Oct. 26 court hearing.