The family of a murder victim are seeking USD 44 million in damages from the accused killer and the local authorities for releasing him two days before on a parole violation charge.

Relatives of Adrienne Cox, 30, who was murdered on 19th June 2020, are suing Rutherford County and suspect Steven Lokey, 31, for USD 44 million.

She was killed two days after the county authorities released Lokey from a prison where he was waiting for a hearing on a probation violation charge. The incident happened in her apartment in Shelbyville.

The victim’s family believes the decision to release Lokey resulted in the wrongful and untimely death of Cox.

The lawsuit stated that “Lokey went to the home of the deceased where he brutally attacked and sadistically murdered Adrienne Cox in the presence of multiple witnesses who have agreed to testify against him in the pending murder trial”.

During a preliminary hearing at Bedford County Circuit Court earlier this week, one eyewitness gave her account of the day in question.

The victim’s roommate Brianna Stipe said the attack took place on the bed as Lokey threatened to murder them both, adding that he was scared Cox would report him to the police for breaking his probation, resulting in him going back to prison.

The autopsy report said the victim was strangled with an electrical cord and stabbed twice, and Lokey is being held on a charge of first-degree murder.

The victim’s family claims that the local authorities were negligent in deciding to release Lokey, who has a long criminal record for theft, drugs, burglary, and probation violations, without bond and only his word that he would show up in court.

Rutherford County has denied culpability in the victim’s death as the case continues.