Towan Julian-Christopher CappellPhoto: Harrisonburg Daily News Record
Three years after her son's murder, Christina Moore is suing the Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) and its staff for $300 million, alleging negligence in the investigation of her son’s death.
In August 2022, Towan Cappell's body was discovered at a construction site off Eastover Drive. Aaron Gordon Jr. of Harrisonburg was charged with voluntary manslaughter in Cappell’s death and sentenced in October 2024 to 10 years in prison.
Moore filed the lawsuit in December 2024, claiming that HPD mishandled the investigation into her son’s death and violated her civil rights by denying her access to justice and due process. The lawsuit asserts that HPD’s actions caused the family immense grief and post-traumatic stress, particularly after Moore visited the scene of her son's death days after the initial investigation and found his front teeth and hair.
The lawsuit alleges that HPD violated four laws during the investigation: a civil rights violation under the 14th Amendment right to due process, negligence, wrongful death, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In addition to the Harrisonburg Police Department, Moore has named former Chief Kelley Warner, Deputy Chief Todd Miller, Det. Bradley Matthias, Det. Sergeant Megan LaPrevotte, and Det. Jonathan Snoddy as defendants.
Moore is seeking $300 million in compensatory damages for negligence, emotional distress, and the mishandling of the investigation. She is also requesting $50,000 in punitive damages for each violation, hoping to deter similar negligent conduct in the future.
SOURCE: Harrisonburg DNR