Kanawha Co. settles murder-suicide lawsuits

CHARLESTON -- The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department has settled three lawsuits that stemmed from a 2008 murder-suicide in Sissionville for a total of $1.4 million.

Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King approved the final settlement of $812,500, for the children of Gina Sigmond during a brief hearing on Oct. 14.

On Feb. 16, 3008, Gina Sigmond had taken out an emergency domestic violence protective order against Eddie Sigmond, her husband, and returned to her home to remove personal items with her friend, Constance Raines, and Raines' fiance, Steven Woodall.

Deputy A.J. Miller had agreed to meet the group and accompany them to the house because Gina Sigmond believed her husband was a threat to her safety, according to lawsuits that were filed by Gina Sigmond's family, Woodall's family and Raines.

Miller was accused of not checking the house and the surrounding area to make sure Eddie Sigmond was not in the vicinity, according to the suits, and allegedly leaving before Gina Sigmond, Raines and Woodall were finished and without telling them.

Eddie Sigmond entered the house after Miller left and shot his wife and Woodall. Gina Sigmond fled outside after being shot, but Eddie Sigmond followed her and shot her again, and then turned the rifle on himself.

King entered orders approving settlements in the other suits in September and Woodall's survivors received $410,000, and Raines accepted $190,000.

Woodall's daughter, Ashley Kirk, received more than $225,000 of the $410,000. Raines received more than $25,000 from the settlement as she was Woodall's fiancee. The Segal Law Firm, which was the firm that represented Kirk, received nearly $160,000 in fees and expenses.