The father of a 20-year-old who was found shot to death has been indicted by a Forrest County grand jury for second-degree murder.

The indictment was signed Sept. 18.

Joel "Chad" Graves, 46, has remained in jail since his arrest on Aug. 29, 2018.

He told officers the shooting was in self-defense as he and his son, Joel "Scott" Graves argued at the elder Graves' apartment on Aug. 16, 2018.

However, Hattiesburg Police Department Detective Erik Herrin testified at Chad Graves' preliminary hearing that investigators found blood pooled underneath Scott Graves' body, and by the location of the shotgun pellets, police were able to determine Scott Graves was lying on the floor when he was shot.

Chad Graves has sought to be released on bond, but was indicted before Circuit Judge Jon Mark Weathers was able to make a determination. Now that he is indicted, the process of seeking bond will have to start again.

Scott Graves' mother, Jessica Jaramillo, said she is hoping her ex-husband will continue to be denied bond, saying he has a history of domestic violence.

Jaramillo said she left Chad Graves on Aug. 17, 2001, after he allegedly pinned her to their bed and put a gun in her mouth. He was never charged for that or other violent incidents that Jaramillo said occurred during their marriage.

She previously shared with the Hattiesburg American copies of the numerous police reports documenting past abuse.

Jaramillo, who is now living in Suffolk, Virginia, said she was worried for her son when he said he wanted to visit his father. But Scott Graves assured his mother he would stay with his grandmother, where he believed he would be safe, Jaramillo said.

Scott Graves went to stay with his father after his grandmother was hospitalized. The visit ended in Scott Graves' death.

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Contact Lici Beveridge at 601-584-3104 or lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev.