Samantha Harer

Samantha Harer, a 911 dispatcher in Crest Hill, Illinois, was fatally shot by her estranged boyfriend, police officer Felipe Flores, in February 2018. Flores claimed Samantha had committed suicide, and the police initially closed the case. The Bonjean Law Group filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of her parents, Kevin and Heather Harer, which was later refiled in state court.

Evidence presented in court showed Flores had blood spatter and gunshot residue on his clothing and hands, while Samantha had none. A large dent in the bedroom drywall suggested a struggle, and the gun that killed Samantha contained Flores’s DNA. Neighbors reported hearing a woman scream, “Let me go!” shortly before the shooting. Flores refused to appear or defend himself during the hearing.

On July 20, 2023, Will County Circuit Court Judge John Anderson awarded $15 million to Samantha’s parents, concluding that the evidence demonstrated Flores likely shot and killed Samantha. The court also recognized the severe emotional distress suffered by the Harers, who had shared a close relationship with their daughter.