The Gray Standoff On ABC 20⧸20 Part 2 Of 2 [WX78CRXdBlU]

Today this is as close as Tarkington can get to the people he loves the most. I don't know what you're saying until you look Watching for any sign of them from an empty field half a mile away I've been through hell because Know where my kids are? I have custody of them and cannot get the sheriff's department that takes his Rangers FBI Can't even help me go give my children These are Tarkington's boys in happier times. Sammy and his younger brother, J.D., now three and four years old. Would you give me mama kisses? Life was good for the family says Keith until his wife's father John Joe Gray convinced her to leave him They divorced A court later awarded custody of the boys to Keith but he can't get to them He says because his ex-wife and his children are inside Joe Gray's armed compound

These bunch of radicals are standing outside their gate with guns on saying if we can't have these children no one can. The courts have ruled that they should be with their father, Keith Well that's what we hear but we also here that in Texas unless she has the papers served on her then she is broke no law They say they brought the papers and put them on a fence She wasn't even around here at that time She was living in a different place so she never seen those papers He wouldn't allow us to videotape Tarkington's sons on the compound, but privately Gray admitted that the boys are in there and he says they're fine. So why not return the children to the father? Why not give their chicken to the fox? He accuses Tarkington of being an abusive father. Oh, he's lying! He'll tell you anything he can just get what he wants Have you ever abused these kids in any way? No

Honey, yeah I'd spank him. You know but i had never left a mark on my children hurts yes because he's raising my children He knows as long as he got them the laws won't come in there and get him But if anyone tries to go in and get him joe gray says this could turn into another waco We can't go crashing through doors and gates and stuff like that. The sheriff of Henderson County, Texas Howard Slick Alfred admits that because there are children inside the compound he's playing a waiting game. I for one am not going to endanger the lives that will be involved maybe different if it was more serious crime It may not be that serious to the sheriff but try telling that to the boys father Yeah well his children ain't in there

He says, well it ain't my problem so let's just drag our feet. Do you understand the frustration from the father of these kids? Sure I can understand his frustration and i sympathize with this frustration but uh... He hasn't seen them in a year and a half Why would we want to take the chance on him not being able to see those children alive Back inside the compound, Joe Gray and his family can hold out for a long time. They say they've stockpiled nearly two years worth of food thanks to a few neighbors who are sympathetic and they're not the only ones supporting The Grays. Nice meeting you sir! On our visit to the compound we met Alex Jones, a radio talk show host from Austin I just don't want to see a bloodbath here because they're committed...they're going to defend their property

This family's been harassed and he has a right to live his life as a free human being and defend his property in his family. And then there is Michael Trice, a preacher from Louisiana who traveled hundreds of miles to help defend the Grays from what he calls another Waco When things get so bad that minister has to strap on her weapon to come out and protect good Christian family from tyranny within the government it's getting pretty bad But how bad is it really? The sheriff says rumors of an assault are ridiculous, that the Grays are blowing things out of proportion. A farce... just a farce. A farce! There's never been a siege going on with the Gray property

Please come over here and get all the date numbers and things, VIN numbers on this piece of Big Brother. But what about this? A surveillance camera mounted on a trailer belonging to the Sheriff's Department Well... well this is a war though you understand It was found near The Grace property just a few weeks ago What's that right there? Covert operations You gotta be kidding The Grace say the sheriff was spying on them in preparation for an assault They are gonna move it here What was this trailer doing there with the surveillance equipment? We were just checking movements and stuff like that. And seeing what was going on. And what happened to that equipment? As far as I understand, they destroyed it. Yeah, I think cows got into it you know... Despite the bit of spying, The Sheriff says the Gray's fears are just paranoia. Plans to assault Joe Gray's compound. I still say time is our best ally

But for Keith Tarkington, whose young sons remain inside the compound time is the enemy. I never stopped thinking of them praying for him. I mean the crime is over now just want results. I want my children back with every passing day he says it gets more and more frustrating to have a law on your side and no one willing to enforce it. I said iris and iris right up here on this hill waiting watching Out here on the ranch lands of East Texas, for now at least the Grays are winning their little war against government and the law. If they try to take the kids by force? We'll protect those children as our own To the death? To the death if need be. Yes sir You're willing to die for this I'd really die for it because how else could you live

Freedom what is freedom? You know, I can take my land. You know Okay, they can take my life that they can't take my freedom And so the stalemate remains although it now appears that informal negotiations are underway The sheriff says John Joe Gray has asked how to go about getting a court-appointed attorney will keep you posted If you'd like to see more of downtown's exclusive video inside Grace Compound, you can go to our website 2020.abcnews.com