Man acquitted of Tyler's murder sues Smith County city after 20 years on death row

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – An East Texas man acquitted of the brutal 1977 murder of a woman has filed a lawsuit seeking damages for his wrongful conviction and incarceration.

Kerry Max Cook of Tyler fought the case for 47 years, including 20 years on death row. His murder conviction was vacated in 2017.

On Thursday, Cook filed a lawsuit against the city of Tyler, Smith County and more than a dozen people involved in the case. Those named in the lawsuit include police officers and sheriff’s deputies involved in the case.

According to the lawsuit, investigators systematically ignored and concealed clear evidence indicating that Linda Jo Edward’s disgruntled ex-lover was a suspect in her rape and murder.

The lawsuit accuses them of diverting the investigation away from the obvious suspect, hiding clues, fabricating fingerprints and presenting false evidence that Cook had confessed to other people.

Cook is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney fees and wants the civil case to be decided by a jury.

To read a full copy of the amended complaint filed in the Kerry Max Cook case: click here.