In the late hours of a September evening in 2008, the life of 13-year-old Jacob Grabe was tragically cut short in his Grand Junction, Colorado home. The young boy, a White male who was an eighth-grader at Grand Mesa Middle School, was known for his love of animals and his involvement in the school band, where he played the French horn. Jacob, who had been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, was shot by his father, Allen Grabe, as he slept in his bed on September 11, 2008.
The events of
that night unfolded with a chilling sequence. Jacob's mother, Jaquette Grabe, was on the phone with a friend when she heard a 'pop' from her son's bedroom. Her husband then reportedly stated, 'I shot him.' In the ensuing moments of horror and confusion, Jaquette heard gurgling sounds from Jacob's room, followed by more gunshots. Allen Grabe's stated reason for this incomprehensible act was that he 'had to kill him because you were ruining him,' a statement he made to his wife. He also expressed fears that his son would never be able to live a normal life.
When Mesa County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the family's home, they found Allen Grabe on the front porch, holding a revolver. He surrendered to the authorities, saying, 'I give up.' Allen Grabe was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Despite his defense team's attempt to use an insanity defense, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young boy whose life was taken by the person who should have been his protector.
