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Lawsuit calls Polk Co. Sheriff Grady Judd's suicide probe a 'publicity stunt'

 
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks at a 2013 news conference about events leading up to the arrest of two juvenile girls in a bullying and suicide case.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks at a 2013 news conference about events leading up to the arrest of two juvenile girls in a bullying and suicide case.
Published April 9, 2015

ORLANDO — A federal lawsuit claims the Polk County Sheriff's probe into a 12-year-old girl's suicide was more of a "publicity stunt" than an investigation.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by the lawyers representing one of two girls who were arrested on felony aggravated-stalking charges following the September 2013 death of Rebecca Sedwick. (Read past coverage at tbtim.es/ggl.)

The Orlando Sentinel ( tbtim.es/ggk) reported that the 25-page complaint accused Sheriff Grady Judd and Deputy Jonathan McKinney of using the girl's death as an "opportunity for media attention." They say their client was maliciously labeled as "the poster child example of a cyber-bully."

An October 2013 press release said harassment by the girls was likely a contributing factor in Sedwick's decision to jump to her death.

The charges were ultimately dropped.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood says the claims "have no merit."