Wrongful killing verdict handed down in 2017 Bogue Chitto murders – Daily Leader

Three family members of a woman murdered in 2017 received millions in compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit against their relative’s convicted killer.

In May 2018, Christiana May-Kelly, Tiara Williams and Deion Williams – all heirs and beneficiaries of Sheila Burage, a victim of the murders for which Godbolt was convicted in 2020 – filed suit seeking $11 million in punitive damages and compensatory damages. Shon and Tiffany Blackwell and Shayla Edwards also filed a wrongful death suit seeking the maximum damages allowed under state law.

One of these cases was tried in court and decided in favor of the victim’s family.

On June 17, 2024, Judge David Strong ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a wrongful death lawsuit against convicted murderer Willie Cory Godbolt. May-Kelly and the Williams each received $1 million in compensatory damages and a total of $15 million in punitive damages.

Judge Strong of the Lincoln County District Court was also the presiding judge in Godbolt’s 2020 murder trial. Godbolt was found guilty by a DeSoto County jury of four counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of William Durr, Austin Edwards, Jordan Blackwell, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Sheila Burage; four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Brenda May, Toccara May, Barbara Mitchell, and Ferral Burage; one count of attempted murder of LCSO Deputy Timothy Kees; two counts of kidnapping of LaPeatra Stafford and Xavier Lilly; and one count of armed robbery for taking a car belonging to Wykeshia Johnson at gunpoint from Alfred Bracey and Henry Bracey.

Godbolt still has the opportunity to appeal the wrongful death conviction.