Victim’s family settles suit with killer’s mother

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A murdered woman’s family has reached a settlement with the killer’s mother, who allegedly purchased guns for her mentally ill son.

In May 2013, 57-year-old Kirsten Englund was found murdered after Jeffrey Boyce shot her, poured gasoline on her, lit her on fire and then shot her again. Boyce was arrested after fleeing to California and carjacking 2 people. He committed suicide in jail.

The family’s lawsuit alleged that Diane Boyce was a straw buyer for her son and that the gun dealer had reason to know she was illegally buying the weapons of her son. Jeffrey Boyce was not legally allowed to own guns.

Diane Boyce allegedly bought an AK-47 assault rifle, a Markarov 9mm pistol and a Rock Island semi-automatic pistol from out-of-state retailers that shipped to World Pawn Exchange in North Bend.

The settlement included Diane Boyce paying $400,000 to Englund’s family and providing documents and information for their claims against the retailers. They allege that the retailers involved, World Paw, J&G Sales and a Minnesota dealer, were negligent and ignored alleged red flags that should have alerted them to the illegal purchase.

“Had these gun sellers followed the law, these sales would not have happened and Kirsten Englund would not have suffered a brutal death,” attorney Linda Singer said in a press release. “The law makes them accountable for her murder.”