TYLER, Texas (TXAN 24) – Miranda Wilt, an East Texas mother, has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the U.S. Navy, claiming the military failed to provide the support her family desperately needed following her husband’s conviction for rape and kidnapping while serving aboard the USS Vella Gulf. Her lawsuit, filed in federal court, comes as the Wilt family, who calls East Texas home, struggles to rebuild their lives in the wake of the trial that sent her husband to prison.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Wilt, a sailor originally from East Texas, was convicted by a Navy jury in 2012 for brutally assaulting a fellow shipmate while on deployment in the Mediterranean. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Now, his wife Miranda, who has been raising their two children in the Tyler area, is seeking damages, alleging the Navy abandoned her family in their time of need.
“Living in East Texas, I never imagined being thrust into this nightmare,” Miranda said in a statement. “We’re not asking for sympathy for what my husband did, but the Navy left me and my children to fend for ourselves, and we’ve been paying the price ever since.”
In her lawsuit, Miranda argues that despite a recommendation from the Navy jury that her husband’s pay continue temporarily to support the family, the assistance ended too soon, leaving her struggling to care for their children. The suit also claims the Navy failed to provide proper mental health and emotional support services to her and her kids, adding further strain to an already difficult situation.
Her attorney, based in East Texas, explained that the $5 million in damages Miranda is seeking will help ensure her children’s future, covering essential needs like education, healthcare, and stability. The lawsuit emphasizes that, although her husband was dishonorably discharged, his family should not have been forgotten by the system meant to protect them.
Miranda’s legal battle highlights the difficulties faced by military families when one member is convicted of a crime. Though the criminal case took place far from East Texas, the impact of the conviction has been felt deeply in the region as Miranda and her children navigate the aftermath.
As the lawsuit moves forward, it raises questions about the Navy’s obligations to support families of convicted service members, especially those from smaller communities like those found in East Texas. Legal experts suggest the case could spotlight significant gaps in how the military addresses the needs of dependents during and after legal proceedings.
TXAN 24 News will continue to follow this case closely, providing updates on how this local family’s fight for justice progresses in the federal courts.
Stay with TXAN 24 News for continued coverage of local and federal legal battles that impact families in East Texas.
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