Victim’s Mother Files Suit Against County

The mother of a slain 9-year-old girl filed suit Wednesday against Spokane County for more than $1 million, contending the coroner invaded her daughter’s privacy when he publicly discussed her autopsy.

Dexter Amend’s remarks that Rachel Carver had been sodomized in the past touched off an unsuccessful recall drive against the Republican coroner, who used the death investigation to condemn homosexuality.

Lori Beal filed the $1.05 million civil suit after the county turned down a claim she filed last year.

Rachel’s body was found in June of 1995 in Riverside State Park. Her uncle, Jason Wickenhagen, pleaded guilty to aggravated first-degree murder in her death.

The suit alleges Amend violated state confidentiality laws when he discussed preliminary autopsy results with reporters without Beal’s permission. In addition, Amend said the girl had been sodomized even though an autopsy by a forensic pathologist did not back up Amend’s claim, the suit says.

Amend did not return a phone message left at his office’s answering service after business hours Wednesday.

, DataTimes