The family of Dominique Clayton has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Oxford and Matthew Kinne—the former Oxford police officer that pled guilty to her murder in a Union County Court last week.
Kinne pled guilty on capital murder charges and will spend the rest of his life in prison for Clayton’s murder. The mother of four was killed inside of her Oxford home on May 19, 2019.
“While the family was pleased that we got justice in chapter one, it’s now time for chapter two. With justice in the criminal courts, now we need justice civilly,” Carlos Moore, the attorney for the family stated outside of the Lafayette County Courthouse Thursday.
No specific dollar figure was mentioned, but Moore explained that any funds recovered through the lawsuit would be placed into a trust for Clayton’s children. The lawsuit alleges that Clayton’s 4th and 14th amendment rights were violated as Kinne was on duty at the time of the murder. Moore noted that Kinne used his OPD-issued squad car, uniform and weapon to carry out a “welfare check” as to not raise suspicion in the neighborhood before murdering Clayton.
The family’s legal team revealed that Kinne and Clayton—who were involved in a romantic relationship despite the fact the Kinne was married—had been arguing over the phone before Kinne went to her home that night.
Moore and his team also alleged that the City of Oxford was responsible for Kinne’s actions after hiring him despite the circumstances he left the Olive Branch Police Department under. The lawsuit alleges that Kinne was a person of interest in the death of his then-wife which was ultimately ruled a suicide. Moore called on the DeSoto County District Attorney to “take another look” at the case. Kinne was forced to resign from the Olive Branch PD before joining the Oxford PD.
The lawsuit also names a current Oxford Police Officer that allegedly told the Clayton family that Dominique had committed suicide in thee early stages of the investigation. This individual also worked closely with Kinne in Olive Branch with Moore describing them as “best friends.”
Watch Thursday’s press conference below:
