Riverside, Ca. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Los Angeles Times, in an exclusive interview with a relative of the family killed by a former Virginia State Trooper, says Austin Edwards pretended to be a detective to get access to the family's home in Riverside, California. Mychelle Blandin has provided notice that she is suing Washington County in southwest Virginia, as well as the Commonwealth, over Edwards' hiring.
Blandin says she even spoke to Edwards on the phone during the incident, because her mother was nervous. Edwards had told the family, according to Blandin, that he needed to question one of the young girls living in the home about something at school. The girl was the same girl Edwards had been communicating with online, and eventually drove off with, before dying as law enforcement closed in.
Blandin says her parents were asphyxiated, and her sister died after having her neck slit. State Police have admitted to human error, which lead to Edwards' mental health issues being missed when he was hired. However, Blandin's claims alleges Edwards also failed a mental health test. This week, Washington County Supervisors denied a wrongful death claim in the case, saying Edwards was a Sheriff's Department employee, not an employee of the County.
