Man accused of killing parents with samurai swords waives court appearance

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A man suspected of murdering his parents with samurai swords gave up his right to appear in court Friday.

Investigators arrested Calvin Ray, Jr., 39 Thursday after his parents were found dead in their home.

According to records, he's a convicted felon who was released from prison in December 2011 after serving time for aggravated assault and a weapon charge.

"I thought this person was locked up in jail," said neighbor Dorothy Watkins. "I thought he was going to be incarcerated for a while."

Police say a relative visited the home on Pheasant drive and found the victims, a 75-year-old man and his 73-year-old wife, dead in a bedroom.

Officers issued a lookout and Ray was arrested at nearby Chapel Hill Park.

Investigators said the motive may have been about money.

"This is very early in the investigation," said Deputy Chief Cedric Alexander."It's a very, very sad scene inside but fortunately we were able to apprehend this suspect before he got too far into the community."

Channel 2 Action News was at the same home covering a police standoff in 2007.

"His parents were being held hostage," said Watkins who had to evacuate from home that day. "Pretty much the entire afternoon everything was touch and go."

Police say Ray had committed an aggravated assault, then fled to the home were he lived with his parents and held police at bay for hours.

Thursday police say Ray was arrested without incident just minutes from the home.

"I guess this is the end of it," said Watkins. "Unfortunately, two people had to lose their lives."

WSBTV