Lawsuit settled against former Franklin County Sheriff and former deputy over Jennifer Agee murder

Tuesday marks one year since police say a former Franklin County deputy shot and killed his ex-wife at a gas station parking lot in Roanoke.

On Thursday, Jennifer Agee's family settled a civil lawsuit for $900,000.

They sued her ex-husband, Jonathan Agee, and former Sheriff Ewell Hunt for wrongful death.

The settlement amount is far less than the $20 million that was originally sued for.

Jenny Agee's family says all they wanted was to close this chapter and provide for the two daughters who lost their mom.

Through watery eyes, Diana Spain says her daughter Jenny's laugh and smile were infectious.     Now she sees the same in Jenny's daughters Makayla and Cameron.

"She laughed all the time. She was always laughing," Diana Spain, Jennifer Agee's mother said. "They're doing good because they have such a huge family. You know, we're so, so, so close and that has helped a lot."

Thursday's civil settlement comes before Jonathan Agee's criminal trials even begin. But so much came out about what happened the day of shootings, like Ewell Hunt's attempt to stop Agee himself and not alert other agencies. That made a quick resolution possible.

Agee is charged with killing his ex-wife Jenny, then getting into a shootout with state police on Interstate 81. Investigators say Agee shot trooper Matt Brannock.

Jenny's brother calls Brannock a hero.

"He's suffering a lot too and we want him to know we appreciate him and stuff," said Scott Neff, Agee's brother.

A necklace with Jenny's face etched onto a heart hangs around her mother's neck. As a year approaches, she still feels the grief of losing a child.

"My heart still has a huge hole. You know I'm still broken," Spain said.

Spain says she often visits Jenny's grave and sees a card and a rose from Mac and Bob's, where Jenny was a waitress.   

She says the restaurant and many others in Salem have helped comfort the family during this past year.

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A civil lawsuit filed by the estate of Jennifer Agee against former Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt and her ex-husband, Jonathan Agee, has been settled.

Jennifer Agee's estate will receive $900,000.

Jonathan Agee was employed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and is accused of driving to Roanoke and shooting Jennifer Agee in a gas station parking lot last Memorial Day.

Jennifer Agee's family filed a $20 million lawsuit, in which Jonathan Agee and Ewell Hunt were named. The suit alleged that Sheriff Hunt's negligence led to Jennifer Agee's death and he could have kept his deputy, Jonathan Agee, from allegedly killing his ex-wife.

Investigators say Jonathan Agee then led police on a chase into Montgomery County.  They say he stopped on Interstate 81, and shot a state trooper before being shot himself.

We'll hear from family members of Jennifer Agee later tonight.