Family of Murdered Nursing Student Sues Bond Company

The family of a nursing student who was murdered is taking legal action against a Tennessee bond company that helped her ex-boyfriend secure his release from prison. They claim that instead of ensuring his compliance with bond terms, the company enabled him to locate and kill her.

Lauren Johansen, a 22-year-old from Mississippi, was discovered dead in 2024, her body hidden in the trunk of her car.

Johansen’s father had urged the court not to release Brisen Rivers, her ex-boyfriend, but shortly after, he was let go on bond and soon faced accusations of her murder. Now, the family is seeking $150 million from the bond company that facilitated his release.

A lawsuit filed in Nashville alleges that the bond company failed to adequately monitor Rivers’ compliance with the conditions of his release. Despite having ankle monitors, neither law enforcement nor Johansen’s family were notified when he crossed state lines into Mississippi, where she was studying nursing. Shortly after his second trip, Johansen vanished.

Her body was later found wrapped in garbage bags and sheets, a grim discovery that shook the community.

Lance Johansen, Lauren’s father, expressed his anger towards the bond company and the court system, claiming they overlooked Rivers’ history of violence. “They knew he was a threat to my daughter, and still did nothing,” he said.

He described the loss of his daughter as devastating, emphasizing her kindness and innocence. “Seeing my daughter treated like garbage is unbearable. How could they have released him?” he questioned.

The family’s lawsuit is not only against the bond company but also includes the private surveillance firm and others involved in the bond’s collateral.

Currently, Rivers faces murder charges and is being held on a new bond set at $1 million. Prior to the murder, he had spent seven months in jail for previous violent offenses against Johansen.

Initially charged with severe crimes, his bond was reduced from $251,000 to $150,000, ultimately being posted by two Nashville bondsmen, both of whom are now being targeted in the family’s legal action.