Grant Philip Fontaine, 20, was born to Philip Fontaine and his second wife, Serena, after a 28-hour labor. His father was away on business and chose not to return for Grant's birth.
School records indicate that neither parent took more than a superficial interest in their son's development. Philip was frequently gone for days at a time, and those who knew Serena suggested that she may have had a serious alcohol problem. She left the Fontaine home when Grant was twelve, and he has not seen or heard from her since.
After his mother left, Grant was raised by a series of nannies and housekeepers. Often, the only real supervision Grant had was when his father's handyman, Joey Beecher, chased off the unsavory characters that Grant associated with.
Fights, drugs, and delinquency marked Grant's teenage years. Fontaine money and lawyers, plus occasional intervention by Joey Beecher, smoothed ruffled feathers and kept Grant from being suspended from high school.
During high school, Grant had no friends to speak of and did not date anyone for any length of time. Acquaintances and school authorities recall him as a known marijuana and cocaine user who attended a rehab program during the summer before his senior year, which appeared to be less than effective.
Grant graduated in the bottom quarter of his class, but generous donations from the Fontaine family facilitated his admission to the University of Mississippi. Sources say Ashley Fontaine typically delivered these contributions personally, except for two occasions when a male Fontaine employee with an "extremely negative attitude" made the deliveries.
His roommates described Grant as moody and undependable, although he always pays his share of the bills, charging them to his father along with all his other school expenses. Grant often spends the night away from the dorm, but no one knows where he goes.
Grant entered drug rehab during both of his first two summers in college. During his second stint at rehab, he was caught smuggling drugs into the facility through an airshaft. According to several sources, Grant has continued to use drugs and is thought to sell small quantities to other students.
Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department records indicate that five individuals were arrested for possession or possession with intent to distribute within one-half mile of the Fontaine residence over a 22-month period. All the arrests resulted from anonymous tips from a concerned citizen.
Grant was constantly at odds with his father, who made his disappointment with Grant known in private and in public. Neighbors have heard the two men fight loudly and frequently, after which Grant usually storms from the house and does not return until very early the next morning.
Neighbors also reported loud, heated arguments between Grant and the Fontaine handyman, Joey Beecher, which usually occurred on the residence's grounds. They say that the only one in the household Grant seems to be on friendly terms with is his stepmother, Ashley.
