Lawsuit by Lovely Varughese demands $100,000.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: Lovely Varughese, the mother of Pravin Varughese, the 19-year-old Southern Illinois University who was allegedly murdered and his body found in February, in Carbondale, Illinois, has filed another wrongful death lawsuit – against Illinois State Police (ISP) District 13 and ISP trooper Chris Martin.
Lovely Varughese wrote to The American Bazaar of her latest legal action, which seeks justice and closure for her son’s death, which is yet to be unraveled.
According to her, the decision to file a new lawsuit, which seeks $100,000, was based on the fact that Martin was the last person to see her son alive, and if he had been more alert and acted professionally, Pravin could have been saved that fateful night in a secluded, wooded area, where ultimately his body was found days later.
According to prior reports and allegations by the Varughese family, Martin made only a cursory check the night he was informed by an individual parked on the roadside that he had seen Pravin running into the woods after the two got into an altercation.
The Varughese family alleges that Martin didn’t investigate properly or thoroughly, and if he had shown more action, asked for additional help from the ISP to search for Pravin, his life could have been saved.
The Varughese family believes that, that particular individual, Gaege Bethune, who told Martin about Pravin running into the woods, is the murderer of Pravin. Bethune has been on the lam for months now.
Lovely Varughese blames the ISP district also where Martin worked, holds them responsible, and to be held accountable for Pravin’s death.
Carbondale police have maintained all along that the teenager died because of exposure to the harsh cold, of hypothermia, after he had gone out for a party with friends. However, a deluge of details, including forensic and private post-mortem reports suggest otherwise, with multiple blunt force injuries on Pravin’s body yet to be explained.
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The Varughese family has previously filed lawsuits against Bethune, the city of Carbondale, and former police chief Jody O’Guinn, who was fired over mishandling of Pravin’s case.
Recently, the Varughese family traveled by road to Washington, DC, and met elected state representatives, talked of their ordeal and anguish, asked to make their plea heard on Capitol Hill.
Related Story: Mayor of Morton Grove Dan DiMaria calls for re-examination of Pravin Varughese death case
The more than 14-hour long trip turned out to be more than successful as they got a call from the US Justice Department, who urged the family to file a complaint against the Carbondale police, the state’s attorney and anybody else they think is to be blamed for the botched investigation.
Lovely Varughese said after the trip that she would file complaints with the Justice Department against Carbondale police and the Jackson County state’s attorney.
Related Story: City of Carbondale, former police chief Jody O’Guinn want wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Pravin Varughese dismissed
The family had then met with Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mark Kirk’s office and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, also, in Washington, DC.