Kerry Max Cook, a Tyler man exonerated in the 1977 murder of Linda Jo Edwards, has filed a lawsuit seeking damages for his wrongful conviction and decades of incarceration.
Cook, who spent 47 years battling the case—including 20 years on death row—had his capital murder conviction vacated in 2017. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared him “actually innocent,” ending a protracted legal ordeal.
“Days dragged into months, months dragged into years and years dragged into decades,” Cook said of his experience.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, names the City of Tyler, Smith County, and more than a dozen law enforcement officers and officials. It alleges misconduct in the investigation, including suppressing evidence that implicated Edwards’ ex-lover, fabricating fingerprint evidence, and falsely claiming Cook had confessed.
Cook said he initially sought an acknowledgment of the wrongful conviction but received no admission.
“I’m wanting accountability. I’m not wanting just compensation. I’m wanting accountability,” Cook stated. “I promised my family I’d never give up until I clear our names.”
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and requests a jury trial. Cook described his exoneration as “indescribable,” emphasizing his determination to achieve justice.
