Article published Oct. 12, 1999
Hattiesburg American
By Cathi Carr

Widow settles wrongful death lawsuit

Brandy Turner, the 23-year-old widow of Alabama police officer Keith Turner, has settled her wrongful death lawsuit against Jones County Sheriff Maurice Hooks, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and the Board of Supervisors.

Five other defendants – Jones County District Attorney Jeannene Pacific, Assistant DA James Stricklin, the state of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and Jones County Public Defender David M. Ratcliff – had been named in the suit but were released by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pickering.

“Thank God it’s over and that everybody can maybe put it behind them now,” said Moody, Ala., police chief Bobby Clements, Keith Turner’s boss at the time he was killed.

Brandy Turner sued for $10 million but how much she will receive may not be disclosed. Attorneys handling the case likely will be prohibited, in a stipulation order expected to be filed this week, from discussing details of the settlement.