WARREN, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — Dish Network and a subcontractor are facing a lawsuit after an employee murdered a woman in her Arkansas home after installing a satellite system.
Mona L. Gregory Hayes, as administratrix of the estate of Crissy Hayes, filed a complaint July 6 in Bradley County Circuit Court against Dish Network Service LLC and Southern Star Inc., alleging negligence.
According to Hayes' complaint, Southern Star was contracted to install satellite dish systems with Dish Network in Arkansas. She claims that in July 2020, the defendants' satellite installer came to her daughter's home and installed a satellite system.
Hayes further claims the installer, Dilan Estes, later returned to the home and "brutally murdered" her daughter and pleaded guilty to the crime, which drew extensive media coverage. Estes pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree in December and agreed to a prison sentence of 6-30 years.
She alleges Estes had been fired from at least two other jobs, including a law enforcement job, and was not eligible for rehiring in law enforcement. Hayes claims the defendants failed to do an appropriate background check on Estes and continued to allow him to go unsupervised into the homes of customers.
She further claims Estes had issues as a juvenile, including inpatient treatment at a psychiatric facility.
The estate seeks monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. She is represented by Lloyd Kitchens and Matthew Hartness of The Brad Hendricks Law Firm in Little Rock.