Murder for Insurance Proceeds Results in Life in Prison

It Is Not Nice to Break Your Wife's Neck to Collect her Life Insurance So You Get Life In Prison

Post 5067

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Insurance fraudster and murder Kenneth Russell Moyer appealed the trial court's denial of his petition for resentencing under Penal Code section 1172.6.  Moyer took issue with the jury's conclusion he was a beneficiary on his wife's insurance policy, his counsel's failure to properly litigate this issue at his first trial and argued his appellate counsel's conclusion he is ineligible for relief under section 1172.6 constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.

In The People v. Kenneth Russell Moyer, C100909, California Court of Appeals, Third District, El Dorado (April 23, 2025) the Court of Appeals kept the killer in jail.

BACKGROUND

The information charged Moyer with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, insurance fraud and attempted escape while felony charges are pending. The information further alleged the special circumstance that the murder was committed for financial gain.

The facts of the underlying the offense are set forth in the appellate opinion from Moyer's prior appeal. (People v. Moyer (Aug. 30, 1996, C019477) [nonpub. opn.] (Moyer).)

Succinctly stated, in this case, a wealthy widow marries an unfaithful man who takes financial advantage of her, leading to her murder.

Shortly after the start of their marriage, Moyer shared his plans with Ross, a former employee who was in prison. The two discussed whether Ross would kill the victim for Moyer when he was released from prison in 1992 by breaking her neck. The plan failed when Ross was denied release.

In September 1992, Moyer and the victim each took out $180,000 life insurance policies. Each policy required a physical examination. Moyer was the beneficiary of the victim's policy. The victim completed her physical examination, and her life insurance policy became effective. That evening a passing motorist reported seeing a car plunge down an embankment. The motorist found the victim dead in the driver's seat, covered in dried blood. Mitch McLees was semiconscious in the passenger seat but suddenly became alert when paramedics attempted to intubate him. He had no internal injuries and only a small cut.

A pathologist determined that the victim did not die in the car accident but rather died from a broken neck.

McLees testified that he was working in the couple's garage the night of the murder. When Moyer called out to him, he came into the house and found Moyer standing over the victim's body. Moyer told McLees that he had already killed the victim and instructed him to drive somewhere and stage an accident. When McLees refused, Moyer threatened to tell the police that McLees had killed the victim and also threatened his family and fiancée.

After the murder, Moyer hired workers to scrape grout from the tiles in his home's entryway, explaining that he had spilled cherry cough syrup on them. However, when investigators analyzed the grout, they found the victim's blood.

THE TRIAL

McLees was convicted of first degree murder of the victim for financial gain and insurance fraud. The jury convicted Moyer of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud. The jury also found true the special circumstance that the murder was committed for financial gain.

The trial court sentenced Moyer to life without the possibility of parole for the murder, 25 years to life for the conspiracy, and three years in state prison for the attempted escape.

Moyer moved for resentencing and the trial court denied the petition, finding the record of conviction ... was found by the jury to have acted with the intent to kill; therefore, as to both counts, the Petitioner is ineligible for relief as a matter of law and the Court does not find a prima facie showing has been made."

DISCUSSION

Senate Bill No. 1437 added what is now section 1172.6, which allows those convicted of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine to seek relief.

As to Moyer's murder conviction, the trial court instructed the jury on the elements of murder: that a human being was killed, the killing was unlawful, and the killing was done with malice aforethought. More importantly, the trial court instructed the jury on the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed for financial gain. The jury found Moyer guilty of first degree murder and found this special circumstance allegation the murder was committed for financial gain true.

As to the factual finding Moyer had the requisite intent to kill. Here the trial court did not err in denying Moyer's petition because he was ineligible for relief as a matter of law based on the jury's special circumstance finding he was the actual killer or he was a direct aider and abettor who had the intent to kill the victim.

ZALMA OPINION

Many in the police, judiciary, and prosecutors believe that insurance fraud is not a violent crime. When a man breaks his wife's neck so he can collect the proceeds of a life insurance policy, the act is as violent a crime as can be conceived. The unmitigated gall of the murderer to first unsuccessfully appeal his conviction and then move to reduce his sentence failed because the evidence was overwhelming and the California Court of Appeal recognized that murder for profit is a serious crime keeping Moyer in Prison for the rest of his life.

(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.

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