5/20/23

Relatives of the California family who were murdered by a former Virginia State Police trooper last fall have notified authorities that they will sue for gross negligence.

28-year-old Austin Lee Edwards drove cross-country in November to meet a 15-year-old girl he met online after posing as a 17-year-old boy. He ultimately shot and killed her mother, grandmother, and grandfather before abducting the teenager.

Now, attorneys for extended family members say that both Virginia State Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are guilty of negligence and “breaching mandatory duties” for hiring Edwards, who had documented mental health issues.

The lawsuit reportedly seeks over 100 million dollars in damages.

Edwards died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase.