PRAGUE, Okla. (KFOR) – A Lincoln County District Court judge has sided with the family of a teen found dead in her garage after her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
Alaunna Raffield died December 8, 2020. Her family found her in their garage with a gunshot wound to the head.
“About 6:15 that morning, Heather got up to let the dogs out, and I was in there getting ready for work,” Kevin Williams, Raffield’s stepfather told News 4 in a 2022 interview. “Heather was kneeling down next to Raffield. She was lying down on the ground flat out on her back,” he said. “So we called 911.”
Raffield’s family told News 4 they never heard a gunshot and police asked questions about her dominant hand and if she was involved in any type of physical altercation.
A gun powder residue test was never conducted on Raffield’s head or hands, but was on her clothing after a funeral home employee washed the sweater she was wearing three times. The gun that was found several feet from her body belonged to the family but has never been positively identified as the gun used in her death.
Police said Raffield also had relationship with an 18-year-old man, who admitted to police that he logged into Raffield’s social media account after her death to get pictures. He also admitted to investigators that he is the one responsible for multiple cryptic messages sent from Raffield’s account after her death.
Authorities and the medical examiner ruled her death as a suicide. The Prague Police Department says they closed the case. The OSBI says they never opened one. The Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office told News 4 in 2022 the case was an open investigation but when News 4 reached out to the DA September 13, 2024 for comment, we never heard back.
In 2022, Raffield’s family filed a wrongful death civil suit against the man who admitted to going into her social media. Two years later, no criminal complaints have been filed against that man, so News 4 is not identifying him.
The case has played out in Lincoln County District Court over that two-year span with minimal updates until September 12.
“We secured an $11.6 million judgment this week,” said Brandon Pierson with Palmer Law, which has represented Raffield’s family. “Unfortunately, being civil in nature, it’s symbolic…but it forever and officially applies legal culpability…in the death of Alaunna Raffield.”
Pierson’s firm believes, along with Raffield’s family, that the OSBI should have handled the case to potentially avoid having to pursue civil damages.
Court records say a judge granted a judgment in their favor because the defendant hasn't been showing up. Pierson says the defendant showed up September 12, but that a judge granted the judgment regardless.
"We had established everything that we needed to be granted a judgment under Oklahoma law,” said Pierson.
In the documents, the judge notes that the defendant’s shocking behavior also played a factor which he admitted to in a deposition. The answer he provided related to the admission he logged into Raffield’s social media after her death and sent the messages.
“This generally makes me upset with myself that, I did something like that,” the defendant said in a direct quote. “But I did it, you know. I can only face my consequences.”
The defendant can still appeal the decision, which Pierson said he has every legal right to do; but Pierson believes this might be a big step forward. He said Raffield’s family has struggled with feelings of hopelessness and grief over four painful years.
"We hope that there will be a rejuvenation in the investigation as a whole,” said Pierson.
Pierson says his office did hear from the Lincoln County DA Friday, that asked his team a few questions about the case.
No amount of money will bring Raffield back, but Pierson says it’s a start towards taking a harsher look at a case her family can’t forget.
"You hate bringing out monetary value as it relates to a life, but as far as, long as this family is concerned, it means more to them than anybody to have this legal culpability,” said Pierson.
