EDWARDSVILLE — Granite City homeowners are being sued after their daughter's friend allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend at their residence.
Ronald Wilderness, as special administrator for Jason Thomas, deceased, filed a complaint Dec. 31 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Marvin Mills and Cynthia Mills, alleging negligence.
Wilderness claims in the complaint that the defendants owned a property on Benton Street in Granite City, where their daughter Kristine Mills and her boyfriend Jason Thomas resided. Thomas is the plaintiff's brother, the suit states. Wilderness alleges that on Jan. 9, Thomas was shot by Kristine Mills' "associate" and died inside the residence.
Wilderness alleges the defendants were aware of Kristine Mills' "violent tendencies." He further claims the defendants knew Kristine Mills associated with "dangerous and violent persons." The defendants continued to allow her to occupy and have control over their property even though she posed "an inherent risk to other people at the property."
Wilderness alleges the defendants failed to exercise reasonable care to protect those "lawfully" living on the property and failed to warn Thomas about their daughter.
Wilderness seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Derek Rudman of Rudman & Smith Law in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 20-L-1843