Ruling made on life insurance payout after murder

Woman to retain control of money despite appeal from daughters

A woman will keep the life insurance proceeds that were left to her, despite an appeal from a murder victim’s daughters.

Pam Hupp was awarded $150,000 after they were signed over to her by Betsy Faria, just four days ahead of Faria being found dead in her home. The victim of a stabbing, Betsy’s husband, Russ Faria, was initially convicted of her murder back in 2013. However, he was later acquitted in November last year following a re-trial that took into account evidence relating to Betsy’s life insurance benefit.

Hupp was later sued by Betsy’s daughters, Mariah and Leah Day, in an attempt to win the proceeds as Hupp had told investigators that Betsy had wanted her children to have the money.

However, during a court ruling it was stated that: “It is not possible from this limited evidence to determine with any specificity what Betsy’s intent was regarding the insurance proceeds, other than that stated on the beneficiary form.”

The form does not outline what money, if any, that Pam Hupp is supposed to distribute to Mariah and Leah, with the Judge stating that Betsy had left that decision to Hupp herself. However, he also highlighted that Hupp could still choose to pass the money on to the daughters.

During a phone interview with Fox, Hupp stated that the ruling was “not a victory” and that she felt sympathy for both girls. She suggested that they didn’t wish to take court action and that they were instead pushed by their family.

In addition, the judgment ordered Betsy’s daughters to be responsible for $2,500 in attorneys’ fees.

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