WARREN - The life insurance provider of murdered Air Force Reserve pilot Karl Hoerig is asking that nearly $365,000 in benefits be placed in holding until it's determined if his wife, who has been charged in the death, is allowed to collect on the payout.
Portland, Ore.-based Standard Insurance Co., in a court filing Thursday, asks for the escrow account to be created because proceeds may not be payable to Claudia Hoerig, the designated beneficiary, because she has been charged with aggravated murder in connection to the pilot's death.
Ohio law prevents anyone convicted of murder, aggravated murder or voluntary manslaughter from benefiting by the death.
''Because the criminal investigation into the death of the decedent is ongoing, Standard is unable to determine who is entitled to the proceeds of the decedent's coverage under the group policies without subjecting itself to potential multiple liabilities,'' the court document states.
According to the paperwork, Hoerig was insured for $364,000, consisting of $50,000 in basic life insurance coverage and $314,000 in accidental death and dismemberment coverage. He designated his wife as the primary beneficiary and his two children as contingent beneficiaries of 50 percent each of his coverage under the policy.
Hoerig's children may be entitled to the proceeds if it's determined Claudia Hoerig is disqualified from receiving the payout under Ohio law, the filing states.
The coverage is provided through Southwest Airlines. After placing the money into the account, Standard is asking to be removed from the case and released from liability.
The case has been assigned to Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay.
Claudia Hoerig is the prime suspect in Karl Hoerig's murder and she fled to her native country of Brazil shortly after the shooting death in their Newton Falls home. Brazil refuses to extradite Claudia Hoerig despite an existing extradition treaty with the United States.
Police say that on March 10, 2007, Claudia Hoerig purchased a Smith and Wesson .357 five-shot revolver and spent the rest of the day at the Warren Shooting Range. On March 12, 2007, Claudia Hoerig shot her husband in their Newton Falls home, according to police.
There have been attempts by the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office and U.S. Reps. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and John Boccieri, D-Alliance, to return Claudia Hoerig to face the charge.