Paragould Man Accused of Child Rape Dies While Out on Bond Awaiting Trial

PARAGOULD, Ark. — An accused child rapist who was out on bond awaiting trial has died.

Bryan Gray, 52, of Paragould, died on Sept. 15, according to an obituary from Heath Funeral Home. Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death. Foul play was not suspected, authorities said.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Gray was arrested on March 1 on three counts of Rape, a Class Y felony punishable by up to life in prison in Arkansas. Prosecutors would amend the charges to include six counts of rape, one count of sexual indecency with a child, and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. The charges were brought in two cases: 28CR-25-150 and 28CR-25-139.

The probable cause affidavit said on March 1, the Paragould Police Department’s CID and the Arkansas State Police’s Crimes Against Children Division were notified of a sexual abuse report involving a child. The CACD investigator conducted a forensic interview with the alleged victim, who disclosed sexual acts that constitute rape by definition of the statute.

The alleged victim named Bryan Gray as the potential defendant. Gray allegedly performed sexual acts on the juvenile multiple times. The incidents began in 2020, when the juvenile was 10 years old. The affidavit says it lasted until January 2025.

Gray was originally jailed on a $250,000 cash-only bond. He was in the detention center from March 1 to July 18, 2025, according to the sheriff’s office.

On July 18, Circuit Judge Melissa Richardson signed an order reducing his bond to $250,000 cash or surety to run concurrently in both cases. Gray made bail after depositing $25,000, according to court records.

Graphic details in the affidavit were omitted from this article to protect the victim