Jane Coates Seeks to Reopen 23-Year-Old Lucy Harrison's Texas Shooting Case After No-Bill
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Jane Coates Seeks to Reopen 23-Year-Old Lucy Harrison's Texas Shooting Case After No-Bill
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Summary
Jane Coates has asked for her daughter Lucy Harrison's Texas shooting case to be reopened, saying Prosper police failed to investigate the January 2025 death with sufficient rigour before a grand jury declined to indict Lucy's father.
February's UK inquest sharpened that challenge: senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded 23-year-old Lucy was unlawfully killed and said Kris Harrison's actions were reckless and amounted to gross negligence manslaughter.
Coates also questioned key investigative steps, saying Lucy was tested for alcohol and drugs after her death while her father — described at the inquest as a functioning alcoholic — was not.
Prosper said police had thoroughly investigated the case and referred it to the Collin County District Attorney's Office, which confirmed in June 2025 that the grand jury returned a no-bill, ending criminal charges.
The case has also widened into criticism of UK consular support, with MP Sarah Hall saying Lucy's death exposed gaps for British families dealing with suspicious deaths abroad; the Foreign Office said it would learn lessons.