Less than a week after a catastrophic explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems killed 16 people, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed on Thursday on behalf of the 9-year-old daughter of one victim. Investigators are continuing their work on-scene.
The lawsuit, brought by Hughes & Coleman law firm, names AAC Investments, LLC – the parent company of Accurate Energetic Systems – as the defendant. Filed in Humphreys County Circuit Court, the complaint seeks up to $12 million in damages: $3 million in compensatory damages and $9 million in punitive damages.
“The explosion occurred because Defendant AAC failed to maintain a reasonably safe factory for the fabrication, storage and handling of explosives and explosive materials,” the lawsuit alleges, accusing the company of gross negligence.
The Plaintiff: A 9-Year-Old Who Lost Her Father
The plaintiffs are identified as “P.M., a minor” and her mother, Cheyanne Towry. The child’s father, 37-year-old Jeremy Moore, was among the 16 workers killed in the October 10 explosion at the military explosives manufacturing plant.
Moore worked in the munitions industry for nearly 19 years, according to his family. On the morning of the blast, he dropped his daughter off at his mother’s house before heading to work.
Moore’s mother, Ava Hinson, described her son to NBC News as “sweet as sugar,” adding: “I call him ‘my little boy,’ and he would tell you that he was my little boy, and he was about 6’7″ and weighs about 300 pounds.” His father, Gary Moore, said simply: “At 7:45 a.m., the day turned very abnormal, and here we are.”
“Those killed were hardworking, devoted employees who should be enjoying their lives,” said lead attorney Lee Coleman of Hughes & Coleman. “Instead, their loved ones are planning funerals and memorials in their memory.”
Fourteen of Sixteen Victims Identified
Initial reports put the number of people feared dead at 18, but two employees were later located alive, off-site. Local investigators, working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and their Rapid DNA system, have positively identified 14 of the 16 victims as of press time. Depending on the DNA sample, the system is able to determine a definitive DNA profile within 2 hours.
However, as DNA testing was ongoing, Sheriff Davis on Monday released the names of all 16 presumed-dead victims:
- Jeremy Moore, 37, veteran employee with nearly 19 years in the munitions industry
- Melissa Dawn Stanford, 53, production supervisor described by her family as “the glue to our family”
- LaTeisha Mays, 26, who worked for the company for eight months
- Trenton Stewart, 25, pastor at The Log Church in Waverly, weeks away from his wedding
- Jason Adams
- Erick Anderson
- Billy Baker
- Adam Boatman
- Christopher Clark
- Mindy Clifton
- James Cook
- Reyna Gillahan
- Melinda Rainey
- Rachel Woodall
- Steven Wright
- Donald Yowell
Before releasing the names publicly, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed on Saturday that he had spoken with all 16 families.
A Community Shaken
The Friday morning explosion registered as a 1.6 magnitude earthquake on the U.S. Geological Survey and completely leveled one building at the facility, scattering debris over approximately half a square mile. The blast was felt by residents up to 15 miles away, with some reporting their houses shook violently.
“To say our family is devastated is to put it lightly,” Brittany Kirouac, niece of victim Melissa Dawn Stanford, told CNN. “In the past 24 hours I have seen anger, sadness, bargaining, denial, and acceptance – not only from our family, but from the families who surrounded us waiting to hear news about their loved ones.”
Stewart’s fiancée, Katy Stover, expressed her grief on social media: “I don’t know what I can even say to make anyone understand the man he was. He made me laugh until I couldn’t breathe, and he was truly my best friend, my soulmate, and my person.”
Churches across the area held prayer vigils over the weekend, with one congregation mourning the loss of their pastor, Stewart. The Log Church in Waverly canceled Sunday services and instead held a time of prayer in the sanctuary.
Investigation Proceeds at “Snail’s Pace”
While the lawsuit was filed quickly, the investigation to determine the cause of the blast and if any criminal wrongdoing is involved is proceeding slowly. Sheriff Davis has repeatedly emphasized that teams from the ATF, FBI, and local law enforcement are advancing through the hazardous blast zone at what he called a “snail’s pace.”
“We’re literally having to take one foot at a time,” Davis said during an initial Saturday press conference. “There’s ordnance still present that makes this recovery effort more volatile.”
The explosion occurred Friday morning at approximately 7:45 a.m. The initial detonation triggered a cascade of smaller explosions, potentially obscuring the true origin of the blast.
No survivors have been found in the immediate blast zone. Investigators are using cell phone tower analysis, employment records, and controlled detonations to safely clear hazardous materials while gathering evidence.
At a Monday press conference, Davis addressed online misinformation circulating about the blast, urging the community to rely on official updates. The sheriff was visibly emotional, explaining that he needed to attend a funeral after the briefing.
“It’s just a small county in rural America where everybody knows each other and everyone is going to take care of each other,” Davis said. “We need our communities to come together and understand that we’ve lost a lot of people.”
About Accurate Energetic Systems
According to an archived version of its website, Accurate Energetic Systems was founded in 1980. It is a significant supplier of explosives and energetic devices to the U.S. military, operating a 1,300-acre complex on the Hickman-Humphreys County line near Bucksnort, Tennessee. The company manufactures bulk explosives, landmines, small breaching charges including C4, and TNT for defense, aerospace, demolition, and mining industries.
The facility employs around 80 people, many of them local residents, making it a major employer in the rural community. Just last month, the U.S. Department of Defense reportedly awarded the company a contract for nearly $120 million for the procurement of TNT, according to federal records.
The company was certified in August 2024 by NSF-ISR for meeting international standards for “design, development and manufacture of high explosive and specialty products.”
As the investigation continues, the plant’s safety record has come under renewed scrutiny.
WKRN reported that in 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Accurate Energetic Systems after an inspection found multiple violations. The agency fined the company $7,200 for issues including:
- Failure to keep break room surfaces, including tables and microwaves, free from cyclonite (RDX), an explosive powder that “could result in central nervous system impairment”
- Inadequate personal protective equipment for employees
- Insufficient employee training on hazardous chemical exposure
- Failure to warn employees about the dangers of cyclonite
Documents obtained by WSMV show that three employees experienced seizures after working in what was called the “Hot House.” Wipe samples taken from employees’ exposed skin and break room surfaces tested positive for cyclonite.
The company reportedly contested the citations at the time, noting that air tests showed RDX levels below safe limits. The matter was ultimately resolved in a 2023 settlement in which Accurate Energetic Systems agreed to implement safety improvements and TOSHA reduced the severity of the violations.
Five years earlier in 2014, a different company – American Sporting Supplies – was leasing a space at the same facility when they experienced a deadly explosion that killed one worker and injured four others. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development clarified Saturday afternoon that Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) investigated the 2014 incident. Spokesperson Chris Cannon told WSMV in a statement that the blasts were unrelated.
The company’s website has been replaced with a single page featuring a lengthy statement by CEO Wendell Stinson:
Our team at Accurate Energetic Systems is shocked and devastated following the tragic explosion and loss of 16 employees that took place on our campus on October 10, 2025. These team members are our family, our friends, our neighbors – it is impossible to comprehend.
Our top priority is to support our team, their families and our community as we grieve together. The outreach we’ve received from thousands of neighbors, churches, businesses, organizations and even those not directly impacted by this tragedy has been overwhelming. We would especially like to thank Compassion Church in Waverly, McEwen Church of Christ, World Central Kitchen, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Tennessee Disaster Mental Health Strike Team – these and numerous other organizations and individuals have been a light and provided strength for all of us during this devastating time. Ours is a close and incredible community.
Accurate Energetic Systems is committed to learning what caused this unprecedented tragedy, and we recognize this will be a lengthy process. Our dedication to the highest safety standards has been our constant priority for 45 years at our facilities and in our community. This is shared not just by our company leadership but by our team members and our civic and elected officials. We maintain high industry standards and have regular reviews by state and federal regulators, and we also lead our industry with significant roles within national safety organizations. That is another reason why this tragedy is so difficult to comprehend.
We are assisting investigators in every way possible and will continue to do so as we all seek answers. We have asked that everyone on our team support the hundreds of responders and investigators that are doing the most difficult of jobs.
Thank you to all who have reached out and provided support during this tragic time. We will continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to provide updates as we have them.
Legal Team Brings in Texas Explosion Specialists
The speed and scope of the legal response suggest this case could evolve into major mass tort litigation. In a move signaling the potential scale, Hughes & Coleman partnered with Armstrong Lee & Baker and Terry Bryant, PLLC – two Texas-based firms with extensive experience in successfully litigating explosion cases.
The Texas firms bring deep expertise from handling industrial and petrochemical explosion cases, suggesting the legal team is preparing for complex, high-stakes litigation that could expand well beyond the initial filing.
“This is a disaster of epic proportions,” Coleman said in a statement announcing the suit. “This explosion involved ultrahazardous materials, and the devastation it caused impacts dozens, if not hundreds, of lives. The loved ones will be in mourning for years, and our clients are still shocked by this horrible tragedy.”
Coleman indicated that additional defendants will likely be added as the case progresses and more information emerges from the investigation. The legal team has committed to “devoting every necessary resource to uncover the truth and secure justice for the victims’ families.”
Notably, Hughes & Coleman began offering free legal consultations on October 10 – the same day as the explosion – warning in a blog post on their website that potential victims should not sign any documents or accept insurance settlements before understanding their “full legal rights.”
The firm also suggested that injuries and damages may be more extensive than initially reported, due to the severity of the explosion, and advised residents in the vicinity to have their foundations inspected for potential structural damage.
Immediate client outreach, together with a partnership with out-of-state explosion specialists, suggests the legal team is positioning for what could expand into mass tort litigation beyond the initial wrongful death case.
The ATF is leading the investigation into the cause of the explosion. Assistant special agent in charge Tyra Cunningham stated that the investigation will be thorough and science-based to determine whether criminal activity or negligence played a role.
“ATF will ensure that if criminal activity is involved, those responsible will be held accountable, and if it was accidental, that lessons have been learned to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again,” Cunningham said.
While authorities continue their investigation, AAC Investments LLC, the parent company of Accurate Energetic Systems, has 30 days from the time they were served to respond to the complaint, according to Tennessee civil procedure rules.
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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.
Image “AES Explosion Fallout” by WSMV NewsChannel5
Did not take but a day for the vultures to move in.
Let the lawsuits begin. Guess that H&C law firm wanted to be first in line to get their cut.