UPDATE: Investigators Charge 14-Year-Old Boy with Capital Murder for Killing Grandparents

BEACH CITY, TX — A 14-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the shooting death of his grandparents.

Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said in a press conference Wednesday that the boy had been charged and that a preliminary examination indicated that Chester and Sandra Bienek had been shot to death late Sunday while they were asleep.

"This is tragic," Hawthorne said. "This has rocked the county, and rocked the community."

Investigators were alerted to the 11000 block of Cedar Gully Road in Beach City by a staff member at Barber’s Hill Junior High School, who’d called the home to check on the couple’s 14-year-old grandson who hadn't been to school Monday or Tuesday.

"They had a student on the line the principal was talking to who advised there was blood on his grandmother," Hawthorne said.

Sheriff's deputies arrived a short time later and found the couple shot to death in their bed.

Hawthorne said school officials had paid a visit to the home Tuesday morning, and spoken to the boy when he answered the door.

The boy, who reportedly suffers from autism, told school officials that he was sick and his grandparents were out shopping.

The principal told the boy to have his grandfather call the school when they returned, but the call never came.

At about 2:15, the school called the home and the boy answered the phone.

"At one point, he tried to act as if he was the grandfather," Hawthorne said.

The principal told the boy to find his grandfather.

Hawthorne said the boy put the phone down and came back a short time later and said there was blood on his grandmother.

Investigators went to the home and found Chester and Sandra Bienek were both found shot one time in the back of the head and lying in their own bed.

Police believe the couple was shot with a .45-caliber handgun that belonged to Chester Bienek.

The parents, who did not live with the couple, have been notified, authorities said.

The couple's 14-year old grandson was taken in for questioning and spoke to police but did not confess to the shooting.

Hawthorne said the boy was charged and has been taken to the Hardin County Juvenile Facility in Kountze.

Police are investigating a motive for the shooting.

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