Kasi Leanne Flowers, an 18-year-old Malden girl who lost her life as the victim of a murder-suicide in 2006, is eulogized by family and friends through a "MySpace" page, above. The site serves as an opportunity for those who love Flowers most to memorialize all things that made her special. [Click to enlarge]

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- The city of Campbell, Mo., one of its police officers, and the town's Dollar General convenience store are being sued by a Malden family who lost their 18-year-old daughter in a murder-suicide occurring in 2006 that left many people in the Bootheel asking, "Why?"

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed through the Dunklin County justice system on May 27, 2008, by attorneys for William Joseph and Carolyn Jeannine Flowers, parents of the late Kasi Leanne Flowers, 18, a beautiful young girl who was mercilessly gunned down while at work at the Dollar General Store in Campbell by a threatening ex-boyfriend carrying a loaded .22 rifle.

According to a statement provided in 2006 by Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, at approximately 6:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 12, Billy Gene Meadows, Jr., 22, of Campbell, Mo., entered Flowers' place of employment carrying a rifle, which he later used to kill his ex-girlfriend and then himself.

Holder said both Meadows and Flowers were pronounced dead at the crime scene as a result of their gunshot wounds.

What did not immediately come out in the press in 2006, was accusations from members of Flowers' family, friends of the former couple, and the Campbell community against the City of Campbell and its law enforcement department, alleging that the city had fair warning that something needed to be done to protect Flowers from her ex-boyfriend's jealous rage and undisguised temper.

Sources close to the former couple are now saying openly that Meadows had a reputation of being physically and verbally threatening, not only toward Flowers, but also other former girlfriends.

Flowers' family suggests that several times before the incident occurred that ended their daughter's life, law enforcement officials at Campbell and prosecutors in Dunklin County were advised that Meadows was stalking, harassing, and threatening the life of their daughter.

Calls to these agencies were made by the Daily Dunklin Democrat on Wednesday, in an attempt to confirm the allegations and allow both sides to comment, but questions were not immediately answered, as local prosecutors were in court throughout day and Campbell's Chief of Police was out of town.

On Thursday, Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff commented on the case, saying that he was only familiar with it due to the murder-suicide that occurred in August, and that officially his office had never been involved nor aware of the case prior to the incident in August, 2006.

Messages that were left with representatives from the City of Campbell's police department were not returned by press time on Thursday.

According to those who were close family and friends of Flowers, throughout the young couple's tumultuous relationship and break-up, Meadows had made several threats toward Flowers and even boasted that nothing had been done or would be done to stop him.

Before the incident in August 2006 at Dollar General, Flowers' parents grew uncomfortable with the tension caused by Meadows and claims to have gone as far as to request through the Dunklin County court system that a restraining order be placed against Meadows, whom they viewed as a loose cannon who would end up harming their daughter or someone else if nothing were done to desist him.

Flowers' family said their attempt to get a restraining order was unsuccessful.

The day Flowers was murdered, witnesses claim that Meadows repeatedly harassed Flowers at her place of employment, coming into the store at least two to three times throughout Flowers' shift, verbally threatening her in front of co-workers and customers.

Witnesses on the victim's behalf also claim that numerous attempts were made to have the Campbell police department respond to the incident at Dollar General in an attempt to have Meadows arrested for his threats and erratic public behavior, but nothing serious was done.

At 6:30 p.m., Meadows would enter the store once more, enraged with a deadly weapon in tow. Allegedly, the customers and employees ran from the store, leaving Flowers helpless as she hid inside the store's business office.

Meadows located Flowers in the business office, shot her, and then turned the gun on himself.

The first to arrive at the tragic scene was not the Campbell police, according to Flowers' family, rather, authorities from the Holcomb Police Department, which is located approximately 13 minutes away.

The overall investigation was reported by Sheriff Bob Holder to have been conducted by the Campbell Police Department, the Missouri Highway Patrol and its Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, and Holcomb Police Department.

After Flowers was laid to rest, her family began working on addressing some of the concerns they had with the incident, while asking the question of why such a senseless act had to happen involving their daughter. For the Flowers' family, their daughter would still be alive today if local authorities and their daughter's employer would have taken Meadows' threats more seriously.

In an attempt to gain closure regarding the loss of their daughter, the family of Kasi Flowers is seeking justice through a wrongful death suit against the parties they feel are partially responsible.

A wrongful death lawsuit is an action brought by the next of kin or family members of a deceased victim in a personal injury case.

The City of Campbell, Assistant Chief of Police Buck Riley of Campbell, and the Dollar General Corporation are all listed in court documents as defendants in the Flower's wrongful death suit.

Through court documentation, it has also been confirmed that each of the defendants has been served a summons regarding the case, although a court date has yet to be set. Additionally, Kasi Flower's father, William "Bill" Flowers recently confirmed the filing of the lawsuit.

Dunklin County Judge Stephen R. Sharp will hear the case.