On Saturday, Sep. 27, Nigel Max Edge allegedly attacked the American Fish Company, a waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina. The suspect, who killed three people and injured several others, reportedly has a connection to American Idol alum Kellie Pickler dating back to 2012.
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According to TMZ, Edge attended the CMT Awards that year with Pickler. The two reportedly met at a charity event in North Carolina. She declined his offer to be his date at a military gala, but invited Edge to accompany her to the ceremony instead.
However, the story does not end with Edge's attendance at the CMT Awards.
The Suspect Sued Kellie Pickler Earlier This Year
When he joined Pickler at the 2012 CMT Awards, Edge was known as Sean William Debevoise. He changed his name to Nigel Max Edge in 2023.
"I am ecstatic about being here at the CMT Music Awards with Kellie, and even more to consider her a friend," he said. "She is the most sincere person I know. She is an angel."
However, the relationship between Edge and Pickler took an odd turn. According to documents obtained and reviewed by Whiskey Riff, Edge filed a lawsuit against Pickler earlier this year, accusing her of attempting to poison and kill him during the event.
The complaint states that during the 2012 event, Pickler gave Edge a poisoned glass of Jim Beam (though the picture he included shows a bottle of Jack Daniels). Edge says he survived because he didn't drink it. He also claims that Pickler's alleged actions constituted a hate crime based on his orientation as a straight man.
Edge Claims Pickler Poisoned His Service Dog, Too
The lawsuit also contains a photo from the 2012 event, featuring Edge, Pickler, and a man Edge claims is his ex-wife's father. Edge alleges that at some point, the man secretly recorded himself and his ex-wife for the "Epstein ring" using a trap door, although he says he's still putting the pieces together.
Another document filed by Edge alleges that the names of Pickler and her late husband, Kyle Jacobs, contain coded references to LGBT topics. He also claims that Pickler poisoned his service dog at the CMT Awards.
Edge's accusations do not stop with Pickler. He also alleged that the Brunswick Medical Center in North Carolina attempted to kill him. Edge's ex-wife, Rachel Crowl, hasn't spoken to him since 2009. She offered the following comment:
"I'm sad for these families. I'm sad nobody helped him, and this could have maybe been prevented."
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
