In a stunning escalation to one of Tennessee’s most enduring cold cases, the family of missing mother Jennifer Wix and her toddler daughter Adrianna has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the last individuals known to have seen them alive, alleging a recent admission could unlock the truth behind their 20-year vanishing.

The lawsuit, lodged in Robertson County Circuit Court on June 5, 2025, by Jennifer’s mother Kathy Nale, names Joey Benton—Jennifer’s then-boyfriend—and his parents, Joseph and Cynthia Benton, as defendants. It accuses them of causing the deaths of the 21-year-old mother and her 2-year-old child, who disappeared on March 25, 2004, after a seemingly routine evening. “This is about accountability,” Nale told FOX 17 News in an exclusive interview aired October 14. “We’ve waited too long for answers, and this new information changes everything.”

The saga began in the small town of Cross Plains, about 30 miles north of Nashville, where Jennifer and Adrianna lived with Nale. Jennifer, a vibrant young woman working part-time while raising her daughter, had been dating Joey Benton, 18 at the time, for several months. On the night of March 25, Joey picked up Jennifer and Adrianna from their home for what was supposed to be a short outing. Witnesses last spotted the trio at a local Exxon gas station around 9 p.m., where Joey was seen pumping gas while Jennifer and Adrianna waited in his green Ford Ranger pickup. Joey later told investigators he dropped them off back at Nale’s house around 9:30 p.m., but Nale insists she never saw them return. When Jennifer failed to show up for work the next day, alarms were raised, sparking a search that yielded no trace of the pair—no clothing, no belongings, no signs of struggle.

Initial investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Robertson County Sheriff’s Office focused on the Bentons, who lived in a rural home in nearby Springfield. Joey’s story shifted slightly under questioning—he mentioned an argument with Jennifer that night—but no charges were filed due to lack of evidence. Rumors swirled about the family’s involvement, fueled by reports of domestic tensions and Joey’s alleged controlling behavior. Cynthia Benton, Joey’s mother, claimed Jennifer had run away voluntarily, a narrative the Wix family vehemently disputes. “She would never leave her baby or family like that,” Nale said in a 2005 press conference. Over the years, tips trickled in: Sightings in Texas, anonymous letters alleging foul play, even a 2013 dig at the Benton property that turned up nothing. The case went cold, classified as a missing persons probe with suspected foul play.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the case has reignited with a series of bizarre and potentially pivotal events. The lawsuit claims the Bentons “intentionally or negligently” caused the deaths and concealed the bodies, seeking $200,000 in damages plus punitive awards. Central to the filing is a “new admission” from a witness whose identity remains protected under court seal, but sources familiar with the case tell the Tennessean it’s a statement from someone close to the Bentons admitting knowledge of the events that night. “This isn’t hearsay—it’s a direct account that could lead to the bodies,” Nale’s attorney, Mark Olson, said in court documents. The admission reportedly came during a private conversation in early 2025, prompted by renewed media attention from podcasts like “Hell and Gone” and “Crime Weekly,” which re-examined the case in detailed episodes.

Adding to the drama, authorities discovered a severed human leg in Kilgore Creek near Springfield on July 15, 2025. DNA testing confirmed it belonged to Joseph Frank Benton, 68, Joey’s father, who had vanished weeks earlier after being hit with 40 criminal charges, including unlawful possession of weapons and explosives. Benton, a registered sex offender with a 1990s conviction for child-related offenses, went missing on June 10—five days after the lawsuit was filed. Springfield police ruled his death a homicide, noting the leg was cleanly severed, suggesting dismemberment. “This isn’t coincidental,” TBI Agent Laura Johnson stated at an August 26 press briefing. “We’re exploring links to the Wix case.” Investigators believe Benton’s disappearance may be tied to fears of testifying or retaliation, though no suspects have been named.

The Wix family has long suspected the Bentons’ rural property held secrets. In 2013, cadaver dogs alerted to scents near a barn, but excavations found only animal bones. The lawsuit demands access for fresh searches, citing the new admission as probable cause. Joey Benton, now 39 and living in Kentucky, has denied involvement through his lawyer, calling the suit “baseless harassment.” Cynthia Benton, 65, echoed that sentiment in a statement: “We’ve cooperated for years; this is just grief talking.” Joseph Benton’s death has complicated matters—his potential testimony lost forever—but police are probing his associates for clues.

Nale, 62, has endured unimaginable pain, raising Jennifer’s surviving son (born before Adrianna) while clinging to hope. “Every day I wonder where my girls are,” she told FOX 17, her voice breaking. The lawsuit, filed under Tennessee’s two-year statute for wrongful death, was timed to coincide with the new admission’s emergence. Community support has surged: A GoFundMe for legal fees topped $50,000 in days, and vigils in Cross Plains draw crowds chanting “Justice for Jen and Adri.”

Social media has amplified the case, with #FindWix trending on X after the lawsuit news broke. Podcasts have dissected timelines, pointing to inconsistencies in Joey’s alibi and Benton’s criminal history as red flags. “This could be the break we’ve waited for,” said true-crime podcaster Catherine Townsend of “Hell and Gone,” who featured the case in October episodes. “The admission, combined with Benton’s fate, screams cover-up.”

Authorities remain cautious. Robertson County Sheriff Bill Holt confirmed the TBI is leading a renewed probe, including forensic reviews of old evidence with modern DNA tech. “We’re not closing any doors,” Holt said. No arrests have been made in the Wix disappearance, but the lawsuit could force depositions that unearth more.

For Nale, it’s about closure. “I want to bury my daughter and granddaughter,” she said. “This admission is our best shot.” As the case heads to court—first hearing slated for November 15—the small town watches, hoping 20 years of shadows finally give way to light. The Bentons have 30 days to respond, setting the stage for what could be Tennessee’s most watched civil trial in years.