The Apparently Ungated Entry to Countryside Manor
Local News
75-year-old Florence Duke was reportedly killed during an apartment home invasion at the Countryside Manor in Douglasville Monday, November 10, 2014.
According to WTVM 9 News, Ms. Duke was discovered bound and gagged in her Countryside Manor apartment Monday evening. Police apparently told media she may have been tied up during a robbery and died later as a result of her restraints.
Chief Chris Womack told media, “From everyone we’ve talked to, from neighbors and family, [Florence Duke] was like everybody’s granny, that always took care of everybody, that would let people come in and stay with her if they didn’t have a place to stay, so it’s just senseless. We want to jump on this fast and hard, and bring somebody to justice for this.”
Our Legal Take
As police continue to search for a suspect and motive in the death of Ms. Duke, The Murray Law Firm is questioning whether a fatal apartment complex security lapse may also hold responsibility in this tragedy.
Crime Map of the Countryside Manor Neighborhood, Oct-Nov 2014 (spotcrime.com)
Recent crime reports of the neighborhood surrounding Countryside Manor reveal a staggering number of crimes, including robberies and assaults. What efforts were made by the owner and management of Countryside Manor to improve security and deter crime on property?
Was the assailant a resident of Countryside Manor and, if not, how was he able to gain access to the apartment complex? What access-controls, such as gated entry, security patrols and surveillance cameras, were in place at the time of the assault?
What individual apartment security measures, such as intrusion alarms, dead bolts, peep holes, and security bars, were available to Ms. Duke in her home?
By law, apartment owners are required to protect residents from foreseeable harm. For example, an apartment owner is aware of previous crime on or near property, they must take extraordinary security measures to protect residents from future violence and crime. Should they fail in this responsibility, the owner and management may be held civilly liable for any injuries or deaths that result as a consequence.
Given the recent history of crime in the Countryside Manor community, The Murray Law Firm believes it is possible the apartment complex owner and management failed in their duty to protect Ms. Duke. If so, the Duke family may elect to file civil claims against the property in her wrongful death. Claims of this magnitude, potentially in the millions of dollars, would demand Countryside Manor finally implement proper security precautions and serve as a grave reminder to other area apartment owners on the need to make resident safety their first priority.
Photographs and a thorough inspection of the property will need to be performed on the family’s behalf immediately to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken locks, are preserved and the family’s best interests are protected.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in protecting families devastated by apartment violence and property negligence and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600. Consultations are free and confidential.
