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Saturday, October 25, 1997

Convicted killer collects on dead woman's policy

DALLAS (AP) - A Dallas man convicted of killing his girlfriend has collected more than $37,000 in life insurance benefits from her policy in a deal that a prosecutor says "makes me sick in the stomach."

"On its face value, it goes against any moral fiber we would have," said Assistant District Attorney Marc Moffitt. "Is there anything we can do about it? No."

Carlos Ali Ledon Vaughn, 22, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced earlier this month to life in prison in the December 1995 slaying of Rachelle Morman, 22. Days before Ms. Morman was found dead in her car, Vaughn paid the first month's premium on the life insurance policy that named him the sole beneficiary.

State law prohibits people convicted of murder from receiving life insurance benefits. But an agreement with the insurance company, signed by a federal judge the week before Vaughn was convicted, allows him to collect $37,655. Another $196,000 of the insurance benefits was placed in a trust fund for Ms. Morman's 3-year-old son, according to the agreement.

Jeffrey H. Rasansky, an attorney representing Ms. Morman's mother and son, said he advised his clients to accept the agreement to ensure that the child received some money.

"It was a circumstantial evidence case. We had no idea at the time the case was settled that Vaughn would or would not be convicted," Mr. Rasansky said. "If Vaughn was not convicted, my client may have ended up with nothing."

The attorney representing Vaughn, Kent Traylor, used the same reasoning in recommending that his client accept the agreement. If Vaughn had been convicted without the deal in place, "it would have been very difficult for him to collect anything, if not impossible," said Traylor, who picked up Vaughn's check Tuesday.

Vaughn, who maintains his innocence in the murder, decided to pursue the money because he thought Ms. Morman's family unfairly targeted him as the killer, Traylor said.

"Carlos wanted the money to go to Rachelle's child, and that's what he told me from the beginning," Traylor said. "And then he changed his mind."

Traylor said he recognizes that some people might find it unconscionable that Vaughn is profiting from Ms. Morman's death.

"Sometimes our legal system achieves a less than desirable result, but we followed all the rules and this is where we are," Traylor said.Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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