Slain Macon man’s family files wrongful death suit against apartment management firm

Family members of a nearly blind man killed last year have filed a wrongful death suit against the managers of the Rockland Apartment complex where the man lived.

Milton Stephens Jr., 40, was found fatally shot in the chest Aug. 18, 2014, on the floor of his unit at the Recreation Road complex.

Stephens’ son, Deontray Stephens, and father, Milton Stephens Sr., filed their lawsuit in Bibb County State Court last week seeking damages and the full value of Stephens’ life from Southland Property Management Inc., a Valdosta firm who manages the apartments.

The suit also names Latanya Village Associates LTD and Dodge Court Associates LLP.

The Stephens family alleges the companies were negligent in not providing better security and adequate lighting as well as not keeping fencing in good repair.

Jerry Davis, Southland’s president and registered agent for the other two companies, said a claim previously was filed against the apartments’ liability insurance.

He said he wasn’t aware of any recent communication among lawyers representing the insurance company and the Stephens family.

Davis denied allegations that the property isn’t well lit and said it had adequate lighting on the day Stephens died.

“I’m sorry for what happened to the gentleman,” he said. “He certainly seemed like a nice guy and was a good tenant.”

Charles Clay, one of three lawyers representing the Stephens family, said Milton Stephens Jr. had four children, two of them minors.

“It’s been devastating,” Clay said of the effect of Stephens’ death. “For the children, especially the minors, there’s financial strain when you lose your dad.”

Stephens has been described by apartment neighbors as “extremely likable,” Clay said.

He said it’s possible someone viewed him as an “easy mark.”

The working theory is that one or two people banged on the apartment door and then shot Stephens, who was nearly blind from diabetes. It was known that he got a disability check and that he had medical problems, Clay said.

Stephens’ killer hasn’t been arrested.

In addition to monetary compensation, Stephens’ family hopes to bring about change at the apartment complex.

“What we’d like to gain is for them to implement some security measures there that would make this less likely to occur in the future,” he said.

SAFETY CONCERNS

Stephens’ family alleges the three companies agreed in their lease agreement to maintain exterior lighting and fencing in working order, but that at the time of Stephens’ death, there were “numerous” holes in the fence surrounding the apartments. The holes were large enough that a person could climb through, according to the lawsuit.

Further, the family argues the companies were negligent in not warning Stephens and other “invitees” of prior criminal activity on the premises and “the likelihood of further criminal attacks.”

Knowing of the crimes, the companies didn’t provide “adequate security protection or security personnel” and allowed the “dangerous environment ... to exist unabated, thereby creating a nuisance,” according to the suit.

Crime data shows that between Jan. 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2013, numerous crimes were perpetrated on the property, according to the suit:

Aug. 18, 2014, a resident was asleep when her window was shattered by “what was believed to be” a bullet fragment.

A resident kicked in the door of another resident, demanding money May 31, 2013. Using a gun, the person forced the resident into a vehicle and forced the resident to withdraw money from her bank account.

Residents’ doors were kicked in March 12, 2011, and Sept. 1, 2011. Someone tried to enter an apartment by force on May 24, 2013.

June 8, 2014, a resident awoke to the sound of a breaking window. An assailant entered her apartment and left through a back door.

Units were burglarized May 9, 2011; June 8, 2011; Aug. 12, 2012; Aug. 10, 2013; and May 6, 2014. The leasing office was burglarized Dec. 29, 2011, and stolen items were found inside a resident’s apartment weeks later.

May 14, 2011, a resident’s vehicle window was broken by a person who then pointed a gun at him. The lawsuit also alleges incidents of vandalism and drug offenses at the complex.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398 or find her on Twitter@awomackmacon.

This story was originally published August 30, 2015 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Slain Macon man’s family files wrongful death suit against apartment management firm ."