Murderer to inherit fortune -- from his murder victim

[Bucky]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/richest_con_in_the_can_dtw5Nf7ilQ9KhzuSXPDeQK

Murderer to inherit fortune -- from his murder victim

Proving that crime can pay, a convicted killer is set to inherit a quarter-million dollars from his victim.

Heroin addict Brandon Palladino, 24, will be living in the lap of luxury when he's sprung from jail, where he's serving time for killing his mother-in-law -- an outcome that has the victim's family fuming.

"It's not justice. I don't understand how he can profit from a crime," said a tearful Donna Larsen, the sister of the woman Palladino killed in 2008, Dianne Edwards. "He's going to come out of jail in his 40s with hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Palladino has admitted he killed Edwards, 59, after she caught him trying to steal jewelry from her Long Island home.

He later made a deal to do 25 years in jail, minus time served, more than a year -- avoiding the maximum of 25 years to life.

Edwards' will bequeathed all of her worldly goods -- about $431,000 -- to her only daughter, Deanna Palladino, 23, who was never charged in the crime.

After Brandon was arrested in November 2009, for the murder, his wife used some of her mom's $190,000 in savings to bankroll her husband's defense, according to a Suffolk prosecutor.

Then Deanna died last February, leaving everything to her jailed husband.

"It's an outrage. He can't have that money -- it's just not right. It's ludicrous," said Larsen, who'd rather see the money go to the state or to charity.
She claims her dead niece, Deanna Palladino, was part of the robbery that led to the murder and took part in an attempted cover-up.

"She gave him the key to my sister's house, and then they later went there together before the police were called. She was part of the cover-up and even pawned some of my sister's jewelry. It's a slap in the face," said Larsen.

Larsen said she believes her niece may have committed suicide with a drug overdose because she could not face what she had done to her mother.

"How could she live with herself?" Larsen asked.

Larsen said she will ask Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Robert Doyle to scrap the plea-bargain deal he made with Palladino, unless the killer agrees to give up his victim's remaining legacy -- $241,000 from the sale of the Melville home where the murder took place.

[struggle4progress]

1. Many states have "slayer laws", preventing direct inheritance by the slayer

from the victim

I don't know if NY has a slayer law, but it may not matter: if Riggs v. Palmer still affects NY inheritance interpretations, Larsen might be able in win a probate case

I wonder if Larsen could reopen her sister's will

[NV Whino]

2. This appears not to be direct inheritance

The murder victim's money went to the murderer's wife. Wife died and then money went to him. Don't see they could do much about that unless they were able to convict the wife, which they were not.

[struggle4progress]

4. "I wonder if Larsen could reopen her sister's will" because

standards for a civil suit are lower than standards for a criminal suit: it might not matter that Larsen's niece was never charged in Larsen's sister's murder, if Larsen has preponderance of evidence. See? That would sidestep the issue you raise

[jobycom]

3. Do the OJ Thing. Sue him for wrongful death.

Sounds like they just want to make sure he doesn't enjoy the money. Suing him would use up a lot of the funds, and maybe get them some of it.

[siligut]

5. 241,000? The lap of luxury?

While I don't think he should see a dime of the money, if he does, $241,000 will hardly put him in the lap of luxury.

[ohiosmith]

6. $241K twenty plus years in an interest bearing account.

[Avalux]

7. I want to know how Deanna died. n/t

[Orrex]

8. Yeah, that's a bit strange.

[Bucky]

10. Drug OD, according to the full story.

Her hubby was already in jail for the killing, so I doubt he's behind any foul play. I think we're looking at the usual dysfunction family type crap shower that comes from excessive drug use.

[Iggo]

9. He's inheriting his wife's money.

The headline skips a pretty big step.

[Bucky]

12. My wife, the post-mortem money launderer

[Starbucks Anarchist]

11. I hope he's killed in prison.