MACON, Ga. (CN) - A recent law school graduate murdered and dismembered a classmate after telling his roommate "how he would go about the perfect murder," and bragged "that he would never get caught," the slain woman's parents claim in court.
William and Karen Giddings sued Stephen Mark McDaniel for the wrongful death by homicide of their daughter Lauren Teresa Giddings, in Federal Court.
McDaniel is in the Bibb County Jail, charged with premeditated murder and possession of child pornography, the parents say in the complaint.
The complaint states: "Beginning at least by the fall of 2007, McDaniel plotted to commit what he called the 'perfect murder.' In 2007, McDaniel told his college roommate how he would go about the perfect murder. McDaniel said that after he killed someone, he would dismember them and then scatter the parts throughout the woods so that no one would ever find them. McDaniel bragged to his roommate that he would never get caught.
"McDaniel told his roommate that he has no conscience and that he relishes power. McDaniel said he would establish dominance over his victim and that he wanted to feel the power of having someone's life in his hands. McDaniel told his roommate that he would use chloroform to subdue his victim.
"In June 2011 and at various points prior to June 2011, McDaniel acted upon his depraved plan, took steps in preparation for murder and dismemberment, chose his victim and pursued his motive and intent to commit murder.
"Specifically and as further alleged herein, McDaniel brutally murdered and dismembered his law school classmate and neighbor, Lauren Giddings, in Macon, Georgia during the period between June 25, 2011 and June 30, 2011."
Giddings was McDaniel's next-door neighbor in a Macon apartment complex. They were members of the same law school class and both had graduated in May 2011.
The complaint states: "Unbeknownst to Lauren Giddings, McDaniel pursued his long held and depraved motive to dominate and kill another human being and he made preparations to pursue his plan to subdue, murder and dismember Lauren Giddings and to attempt to hide the evidence so that he would not get caught.
"Prior to June 30, 2011 and for the purpose of committing his 'perfect murder,' McDaniel purchased a Stanley brand hacksaw. McDaniel unwrapped the hacksaw in his apartment at 1058 Georgia Avenue and left the hacksaw packaging in his apartment.
"Prior to June 30, 2011, McDaniel acquired the components to make chloroform, including bleach.
"During the weekend of Father's Day in 2011, on or about June 19, 2011, McDaniel visited a 63-acre plot of woods owned by his grandfather, Hollis Browning, west of Macon in Pike County, south of Molena, Georgia (between Macon and LaGrange). McDaniel visited the property to inspect the woods on the property by car. McDaniel surveyed the property for locations where he could scatter dismembered body parts through the woods in accordance with his murder plan.
"On June 23, 2011, a surveillance video camera captured McDaniel looking at boat anchors at Wal-Mart. McDaniel does not own a boat. McDaniel was inspecting anchors as a possible device to submerge body parts.
"Prior to June 30, 2011, McDaniel stole a master key to all apartments at Barrister's Hall and was in possession of that key as well as a duplicate key to Lauren Gidding's apartment. He was not authorized to have a master key or a duplicate key to Lauren's apartment.
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