The family of a woman sexually assaulted during a medical emergency at a Lexington strip club is now suing for wrongful death.
Melissa Smiley’s husband is seeking an undisclosed amount of money from Fillie’s Gentleman’s Club, where she was sexually abused before her death; Clyde Sexton, the man accused of sexually assaulting her; and several others for allegedly failing to stop the attack. The victim’s father is also suing on behalf of her two young children.
Police say 37-year-old Melissa Smiley passed out from a respiratory disease in July 2013 at Fillie’s Gentleman’s Club, and rather than calling for help, they say 71-year-old Clyde Sexton sexually abused her. Smiley later died.
http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html
The lawsuit recently filed says she could have been treated if she’d been helped immediately.
Police said the female victim had a pre-existing medical condition that included a history of fainting. The owner of the club said she was a former employee, but was not working there at the time.
In Oct. 2013, the exact cause of death remained unclear. The coroner had said he’s not sure if drugs or asphyxiation killed Smiley.
Sexton is awaiting trial for sexual abuse and evidence tampering.
Police say some of what happened to the unconscious woman was captured by a surveillance camera. Police say it shows Clyde Sexton moving Smiley’s body in the women’s locker room, sexually assaulting her in multiple ways, and then it shows Sexton covering up the surveillance camera with a white sheet.
