A Trust Betrayed

Meanwhile, Paul and Sharon Gray continue to lead a turbulent existence. On April 25, 1996, Denver police received a tip about possible drug use at the Gray duplex on Stout. After spotting an inordinate amount of foot traffic in and out of the house, officers stopped Paul Gray as he was leaving. Gray invited them inside, much to the chagrin of a guest who was seen discarding a still-warm crack pipe. Two people were arrested.

One week later the Denver SWAT team rammed down the door of the Gray's duplex and seized a small amount of crack.

The Grays were evicted last summer for what the public defender's office claims was drug-related activity. The family also lost the federal rent subsidy they'd been receiving for the duplex on Stout Street. Paul and Sharon Gray moved to an apartment a few blocks east of their former residence.

Soon thereafter, Barry Staten says, the Grays entered rehab to deal with their substance-abuse problems. "When they got out," Staten says, "the church helped them get housing. We're working with them to help better themselves so that when their children come home, it won't be like coming home to a crack addict."

The Grays have begun attending Agape Christian Church on a regular basis, says the Reverend Robert Woolfolk. Sharon has become a member of the congregation. One benefit of their attendance, Staten says, is that the Grays get to see their children, who attend the services with Miss Eva.

Says Woolfolk, "We're working toward getting [the children] back in the home."

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