OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A jury has awarded $2.64 billion to the family of a 19-year-old Peru State college student who disappeared in 2010, but the massive judgment likely won't be collectable.
The verdict in Tyler Thomas' disappearance is against Joshua Keadle who is the last person to have seen Thomas alive.
The 34-year-old Keadle is in prison for an unrelated rape conviction. Authorities say Keadle made several statements that led investigators to believe he was involved in Thomas' disappearance, but he has not been charged.
The family's attorney, Vince Powers, says the ruling holds Keadle accountable and affirms the value of Thomas' life.
Thomas' body was never found, but a death certificate was issued in 2013.
The family's lawsuits against the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees were dismissed.
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