NEWPORT, Tenn. — It’s been 15 years since Lisa Brady’s daughter, Megan Maxwell, was murdered in Cocke County. Megan was reported missing in 2009 and it took 19 months of searching before her remains were found.
Jeffrey Stock was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and rape. In 2013, he took a plea deal and pleaded guilty. He was convicted of second-degree murder, theft and arson. His rape charge was dropped and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with four years taken off for time served.
“Tragic memories, they don’t go anywhere. We have them forever,” said Brady. “Megan was failed."
About 10 years before Megan’s death, Stock had also been convicted in Indiana on two counts of sexual battery.
“He worked the system like he knows he can, and once again, he’s out," said Brady.
After serving around 15 years for Megan’s death, Stock was released from state custody on Aug. 13. Brady and Maxwell's best friend, Hollie Sartin,. said they will never stop fighting for Megan.
“Her voice was stolen from her, and I talk about her every chance I get,” said Hollie. “And I will never stop. Until my last breath, I will never stop fighting for her.”
They also said they would always remember her for who she was, and not how she died.
“I want her to be remembered as someone who never saw anything bad in anybody. She was always a happy person,” said Brady.