Alleged Miss. Shooter Out on Bond

December 17, 1997

Brandon, Miss. -- The teen-ager accused of being the mastermind behind the killings at Pearl High School was freed Tuesday on $75,000 bond. Grant Boyette, 18, is charged with accessory to murder before the fact in the two shooting deaths at the school Oct. 1.

Defense lawyers for alleged gunman Luke Woodham, 16, have claimed he was manipulated by Boyette, who has been described as Woodham's close friend.

Prosecutors say Boyette was the ringleader of a group known as the ``Kroth'' which sought to destroy its enemies and practiced satanic worship. He is accused of persuading Woodham to take a rifle into Pearl High School and go on the shooting rampage. Seven others were wounded.

Sheriff Ken Dickerson told WAPT-TV of Jackson that Boyette's family posted the bond. Boyette cannot have any contact with Woodham or the other five alleged co-conspirators, must be under adult supervision when he leaves his home and cannot go onto the Pearl High School campus, he said. Woodham is charged with three counts of murder -- two counts for killing two classmates at the Pearl school and one count for killing his mother. Woodham, scheduled to stand trial in February, is being held without bond.

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