A woman who testified against Nikko Jenkins and his sister in his murder spree has sued officials at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York alleging they failed to protect her from Jenkins' sister, according to court records.
Christine Bordeaux's attorney filed the federal lawsuit naming several officers and warden Denise Davidson on Friday.
Bordeaux was with Nikko Jenkins when he killed Andrea Kruger in August 2013. She also helped lure in Juan Uribe-Pena and Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz in August 2013 before Jenkins killed them.
Bordeaux, a cousin of Nikko and Erica Jenkins, said she did not know that Jenkins would kill any of his victims.
Accused in the crimes, Bordeaux ultimately agreed to cooperate with investigators though she was reluctant out of concerns for her safety, her attorney, Maren Chaloupka, said in the lawsuit.
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"In finalizing her decision to fully cooperate with the investigation and prosecution by testifying as needed, Bordeaux accepted the assurances that she would be kept separate from, and safe from, Jenkins family members and associates," Chaloupka said.
Bordeaux was kept safe during the trial and then sentenced in 2016 to 20 years in prison for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with Nikko Jenkins' murder spree.
In September 2016, Erica Jenkins sought and got approval to move into Bordeaux's cell and a correctional officer dismissed Bordeaux's concerns about it, Chaloupka said in the lawsuit.
Two days later, Jenkins punched Bordeaux and beat her with a padlock, the attorney said.
Bordeaux received treatment at the hospital in York for facial injuries, according to the lawsuit.
Jenkins faces felony assault and weapons charges related to the alleged incident.
A Nebraska Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman declined to comment on the allegations citing pending litigation.
Bordeaux has since been transferred to an out-of-state prison.
Jenkins, who is serving life in prison for the 2013 slaying of Curtis Bradford, is listed as an inmate at the York prison.