A former Kosciusko County news reporter has been dropped from a wrongful death lawsuit in a case involving a fatal shootout in Cromwell.
Stacey Staley, who also goes by Stacey Page, was dropped along with The Papers media group, according to the Times-Union.
The suit results from an incident in 2014, when the bond recovery agents shot and killed fugitive Gary Helman after attempting to apprehend him at his mother’s house in Cromwell. Helman’s brother, Larry, and Martin also were injured in the gunfight.
Helman’s mother filed the suit seeking unspecified damages for wrongful death medical bills and other claims. The suit claimed Staley conspired with the bond recovery agents to create a dangerous situation.
The Papers attorney argued Staley did nothing wrong by providing information.
The attorney for the plaintiffs plans to refile the case. Barnett Bail Bonds and three of its bond recovery agents are still named in the suit.
