DALLAS — A Dallas County jury has ordered Charter Communications to pay approximately $7 billion in punitive damages to the family of an Irving woman killed by an off-duty technician.

Roy James Holden was sentenced to life in prison after killing 83-year-old Betty Thomas.

In 2019, Holden answered a call to her home to help her with her Spectrum phone line while he was on duty.

He returned the next day while off duty in a company van when he learned Thomas was still having issues, and that’s when he ultimately stabbed her to death.

Spectrum News reached out to the family’s attorney for a reaction, but in a statement to the Dallas Morning News, Chris Hamilton, the family’s attorney said, “There is certainly some relief for the family that the public has the ability to know about this danger that their mother didn’t have the opportunity to know about.”

Charter Communications is the parent company of Spectrum and Spectrum News. 

In a statement, Charter Communications said, “Our hearts go out to Mrs. Thomas’ family in the wake of this senseless and tragic crime. The responsibility for this horrible act rests solely with Mr. Holden, who was not on duty, and we are grateful he is in prison for life. While we respect the jury and the justice system, we strongly disagree with the verdict and will appeal.

“The law in Texas and the facts presented at trial clearly show this crime was not foreseeable — and the plaintiffs’ claims of wrongdoing by Charter are categorically false. We are committed to the safety of all our customers and took the necessary steps, including a thorough pre-employment criminal background check — which showed no arrests, convictions or other criminal behavior. Nor did anything in Mr. Holden’s performance after he was hired suggest he was capable of the crime he committed, including more than 1,000 completed service calls with zero customer complaints about his behavior.”

Last month, the company was separately ordered to pay $375 million in compensatory damages. 

Charter says it plans to appeal Tuesday’s verdict.