Hedrick v. Rains

MARTIN, John C., Judge.

Leslie and Gertrude Baldwin were murdered on 30 November 1991 by Norfolk Junior Best. Plaintiffs, co-executors of their estates, brought this wrongful death action against Columbus County and its elected sheriff, Harold Rains, alleging that their negligence proximately caused the deaths of the decedents. Specifically, plaintiffs alleged that Sheriff Rains and/or his deputies arrested Norfolk Junior Best for a probation or parole violation prior to 30 November 1991 and then negligently and unlawfully released him from custody, enabling Best to come into contact with the…