MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The daughter of Christie Cathers provided emotional testimony Wednesday morning in the third day of a scheduled two-week trial in the wrongful death suit of her mother.
Cathers, 45, was killed in a deputy-involved shooting on June 5, 2015.
Madison described her mother as “her best friend” as she recounted the events of June 5, 2015 from her perspective. She testified that the mood went from “joking around, happy, hopeful, really hopeful” to “I’ve never felt pain like that before” in a matter of hours.
She went on: “Every happy moment in our life is always followed by sadness.”
The plaintiffs, under lead counsel Scott Segal, co-counsel Edward Amos, and Greg S. Farmerie, are arguing that the deputies were not properly trained by the Monongalia County Commission to handle this situation as it unfolded. Cathers reportedly had been dealing with some onset of mental illness in the days and hours leading up to her death.
A MECCA 911 operator who took radio calls on the day of Cathers’ death also took the stand Wednesday morning. The operator testified that there had been an incorrect report about Cathers having suicidal thoughts.
Harrison County Judge Thomas A. Bedell is presiding over the case in Monongalia County.