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PRAGUE, Okla. (KFOR) – A Lincoln County District Courtroom decide has sided with the household of a teen found dead in her garage after her household filed a wrongful dying lawsuit.
Alaunna Raffield died December 8, 2020. Her household discovered her of their storage with a gunshot wound to the top.
“About 6:15 that morning, Heather received as much as let the canine out, and I used to be in there preparing for work,” Kevin Williams, Raffield’s stepfather advised Information 4 in a 2022 interview. “Heather was kneeling down subsequent to Raffield. She was mendacity down on the bottom flat out on her again,” he mentioned. “So we known as 911.”
Raffield’s household advised Information 4 they by no means heard a gunshot and police requested questions on her dominant hand and if she was concerned in any kind of bodily altercation.
A gun powder residue check was by no means carried out on Raffield’s head or palms, however was on her clothes after a funeral dwelling worker washed the sweater she was carrying thrice. The gun that was discovered a number of ft from her physique belonged to the household however has by no means been positively recognized because the gun utilized in her dying.
Police mentioned Raffield additionally had relationship with an 18-year-old man, who admitted to police that he logged into Raffield’s social media account after her dying to get footage. He additionally admitted to investigators that he’s the one chargeable for a number of cryptic messages despatched from Raffield’s account after her dying.
Authorities and the health worker dominated her dying as a suicide. The Prague Police Division says they closed the case. The OSBI says they by no means opened one. The Lincoln County District Lawyer’s Workplace advised Information 4 in 2022 the case was an open investigation however when Information 4 reached out to the DA September 13, 2024 for remark, we by no means heard again.
In 2022, Raffield’s household filed a wrongful dying civil go well with in opposition to the person who admitted to going into her social media. Two years later, no prison complaints have been filed in opposition to that man, so Information 4 shouldn’t be figuring out him.
The case has performed out in Lincoln County District Courtroom over that two-year span with minimal updates till September 12.
“We secured an $11.6 million judgment this week,” mentioned Brandon Pierson with Palmer Legislation, which has represented Raffield’s household. “Sadly, being civil in nature, it’s symbolic…nevertheless it ceaselessly and formally applies authorized culpability…within the dying of Alaunna Raffield.”
Pierson’s agency believes, together with Raffield’s household, that the OSBI ought to have dealt with the case to probably keep away from having to pursue civil damages.
Courtroom data say a decide granted a judgment of their favor as a result of the defendant hasn’t been displaying up. Pierson says the defendant confirmed up September 12, however {that a} decide granted the judgment regardless.
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“We had established the whole lot that we wanted to be granted a judgment underneath Oklahoma regulation,” mentioned Pierson.
Within the paperwork, the decide notes that the defendant’s surprising conduct additionally performed an element which he admitted to in a deposition. The reply he offered associated to the admission he logged into Raffield’s social media after her dying and despatched the messages.
“This typically makes me upset with myself that, I did one thing like that,” the defendant mentioned in a direct quote. “However I did it, you recognize. I can solely face my penalties.”
The defendant can nonetheless attraction the choice, which Pierson mentioned he has each authorized proper to do; however Pierson believes this could be a giant step ahead. He mentioned Raffield’s household has struggled with emotions of hopelessness and grief over 4 painful years.
“We hope that there can be a rejuvenation within the investigation as an entire,” mentioned Pierson.
Pierson says his workplace did hear from the Lincoln County DA Friday, that requested his crew a couple of questions concerning the case.
No sum of money will carry Raffield again, however Pierson says it’s a begin in the direction of taking a harsher have a look at a case her household can’t neglect.
“You hate bringing out financial worth because it pertains to a life, however so far as, lengthy as this household is anxious, it means extra to them than anyone to have this authorized culpability,” mentioned Pierson.
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