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HARTFORD – A bill initially proposed by Representative Doug Dubitsky (R-47) that will prevent an individual who is found not guilty of murder or manslaughter by reason of mental disease or defect from inheriting from the estate or life insurance policy of the dead victim has passed out of both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly.
Representative Dubitsky introduced Senate Bill 213 at the request of Heather Messenger’s family. Ms. Messenger’s husband, David, who brutally murdered her in Chaplin in 1998, inherited her entire estate despite being found guilty of her murder by reason of mental defect.
“I am relieved to see this bill pass the House tonight,” said Rep. Dubitsky. “This legislation closes a ridiculous loophole that would allow a killer to inherit from the estate of the person he killed.
“I know that no legislation could ever heal the wounds that a murder victim’s family has to deal with in the face of losing their loved one, but I do hope that by closing this loophole we can prevent other families from suffering from the same injustice that Heather Messenger’s family had to face.”
Senate Bill 213 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
