Federal Lawsuit Moves Forward Against Virginia Sheriff’s Office After Deputy’s Deadly Attack on Riverside Family

Taylor & Ring is representing a family in a lawsuit against the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia. Mark, Sharie, and Brooke Winek were killed by Deputy Austin Lee Edwards, who used his law enforcement credentials to gain the family’s trust and carry out his crimes in November 2022. The case is based on the department’s negligent hiring and supervision of the deputy, despite numerous red flags that should have prevented him from working in law enforcement.

Neil Gehlawat, a partner at Taylor & Ring, spoke to City News Service, stating, “This case matters because it’s about more than one family’s tragedy – it’s about police accountability and whether we accept a system where law enforcement can ignore red flags, skip basic background checks and face no consequences when their systemic failures result in tragic deaths.”

Case background and timeline

Edwards’ background included a brief period of institutionalization following an incident in 2016. Reports indicate that he inflicted knife wounds on himself and threatened to kill his father. As a result of that altercation, Edwards lost his ability to legally possess a firearm in Virginia.

Despite that, he was hired as a Virginia State Trooper in January of 2022 and served in that role until October 2022. He resigned from the Virginia State Police and shortly after, secured a position with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff.

The catfishing and murders

In the fall of 2022, Edwards posed online as a 17-year-old boy in an effort to groom Brooke Winek’s 15-year-old daughter (“R.W.”) in a catfishing scheme. On November 25, 2022, the day after Thanksgiving, Edwards drove 2,500 miles from Virginia to Riverside, California, where R.W. lived. He arrived at the Winek family home, where he pretended to be a detective investigating online activity. He flashed his real sheriff’s badge and then convinced Sharie Winek to call her daughter, Brooke, and tell her to come home immediately.

When Brooke arrived, Edwards instructed her to enter the home alone. She left her phone and daughter in the car. Inside the Wineks’ house, he murdered Brooke Winek (38), Mark Winek (69), and Sharie Winek (65). R.W. eventually entered the home to find her mother dead, and her grandparents were tied up with bags over their heads. Brooke’s spinal cord was severed by a stab wound to her neck. While one of her grandparents may have been alive when she entered, Edwards then set the house on fire and abducted R.W.. A neighbor who noticed the fire called 911, leading to police responding to the scene and finding the three victims dead.

Law enforcement pursued Edwards’ Kia Soul through San Bernardino County, and he eventually lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road. When he crashed, R.W. escaped unharmed. Edwards took shots at a sheriff’s helicopter before turning the gun on himself. R.W. is now living with an aunt.

The lawsuit for negligent hiring and supervision

In 2023, the estates of Mark and Sharie Winek, and Mychelle Blandin (R.W.’s aunt) and R.W. all filed suit in Abingdon, Virginia. Taylor & Ring’s Dave Ring and Neil Gehlawat are representing the plaintiffs in their claims against the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Detective William Smarr (the background investigator). The lawsuit alleges that the defendants ignored clear warning signs when hiring Edwards.

The claim details several oversights and failures by the department and Detective Smarr, including:

• Neglecting to contact Edwards’ father or prior employers.
• Failing to look into the 2016 mental health hospitalization and suicidal threats.
• Failing to verify his firearm ineligibility under Virginia law.
• Never conducting a psychological evaluation, even after Edwards had previously failed one with Virginia State Police.
• Ignoring incomplete or evasive answers on his application regarding prior violence or restraining orders.
• Failing to follow up after the Virginia State Police refused to discuss his employment history.

Plaintiffs also allege that Sheriff Blake Andis ultimately bears responsibility because he authorized the hire.

The legal grounds for the claim

The legal basis for the complaint is that the negligent hiring, supervision, and retention of Edwards violated state and federal law. By granting Edwards law enforcement authority, a badge, and firearm access (which he used to commit his crimes), the plaintiffs allege that the defendants endangered the public. According to the lawsuit, the killings were a foreseeable result of the department’s failure to properly vet and screen Edwards.

October 2025 case update

The defense filed to dismiss the claim, but U.S. District Judge James Jones denied that motion. Now, the case can continue and is moving into pretrial discovery, which will likely take several months. The plaintiffs are pursuing unspecified monetary damages for wrongful death and emotional suffering.

This case is significant as it raises several concerns regarding police accountability and hiring practices nationwide. When law enforcement ignores clear red flags, bad actors can use the credibility and authority of these offices to commit horrific acts of violence. There is a serious need for systemic safeguards to prevent unfit individuals from serving as armed officers. At Taylor & Ring, our goal is to prevent unspeakable tragedies like this one from happening again.

The Winek family’s civil suit is not only about justice for their loved ones but also about reforming hiring standards and oversight in policing. Taylor & Ring is committed to holding institutions accountable when negligence results in preventable loss of life. If you or someone you love has been harmed due to institutional negligence or police misconduct, contact Taylor & Ring to discuss your rights and legal options.