Relatives of three Riverside, California, family members slain last year by “catfish” cop Austin Lee Edwards plan to file a lawsuit next month seeking more than $100 million in damages from two Virginia law enforcement agencies that hired him even though he failed a preemployment mental health screening.
Mychelle Blandin, who is the daughter of Mark Winek, 69 and Sharie Winek, 65, and sister of Brooke Winek, 38, submitted a tort claim this week against the Virginia State Police as a precursor to a formal lawsuit. All three were killed and their home set on fire by Edwards on Nov. 25.
Brooke Winek’s 15-year-old daughter was kidnapped by Edwards during the crime, but managed to escape unharmed before Edwards fatally shot himself during a confrontation with sheriff’s deputies.
