Coroner confirms Elkhart mans death was homicide
Elkhart County Coroner John White confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 8, that James Grant, known as Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullens, was killed. Grant, 69, was found dead at his residence at 1701 1/2 Morton Ave. Saturday shortly after 11 a.m.
White said Grant died of multiple sharp force trauma and confirmed it was a homicide. Though he was found Saturday, White said Grant did not die that day.
He said the autopsy on Grant’s body was performed in Port Huron, Mich. — about four hours northeast of Elkhart — because no forensic pathologists were available in the Elkhart area. Forensic pathologists in Grand Rapids, Mich., who local officials also consult regularly, were not available either.
“It was just the perfect storm,” White said, adding that the transportation required the cooperation of his office, the Elkhart Police Department and Walley Mills Zimmerman Funeral Home.
Grant was a registered sex offender in the area. In 1996, he was found guilty on two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, both class C felonies, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The Elkhart Police Department said an investigation is ongoing.












