PA PA - Ray Gricar, 59, Bellefonte, 15 April 2005 - #11

[J. J. in Phila]

there were guidelines that were established, according to JKA. However, when A. K. looked across the courtroom who did he see, Sloane, or RFG? The person who actually sought the more severe sentence was Sloane, according to the second article.

During a post-sentencing hearing in which then-Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane sought a longer sentence, a letter from a former FBI agent that was read aloud to the court confirmed the Hells Angel member had worked as an informant for the FBI after he was released from federal prison in the early 1990s.

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/575024.html

The same article indicates that A K is not a suspect.

On to the assets question, I am wondering if there is a report about what it was prior to LG taking over.

If RFG did some estate planning in the just prior to his disappearance, that would strongly weaken foul play. We don't know that he did, as of yet.

 

[bessie]

​

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Best Practices Dealing with your fellow posters

YOUR IGNORE LIST



​

 

[Trackergd]

Regarding the "money trail"

On July 25th 2011 the court granted Lara an approved "Application of Excuse Filing Complete Inheritance Tax Return with Register of Wills"

Grounds #4 was "Lara Gricar regards the information in the return to be confidential."

Only side 1 of the REV-1500 Inheritance Tax Return Resident Decedent was filled out. Side 2 with the financial details was not.

Curious.....

At least two other documents list "Balance to Lara A. Gricar".


Some facts from Petition for Settlement of Small Estate
Filed July 25, 2011

Petitioner Lara Gricar (address in Washington State)
List of principal address in Bellefonte PA
Dies interstate, unmarried and with no other children
Petitioner is the only party beneficially interested in the estate
Gross value not exceeding $25,000
All claims are undisputed and will be paid in full
No parties beneficially interested in the estate, no claims that are denied and no claims that will not be paid who are required to be joined in this petition or to receive notice hereof

Petition to be granted:
Cost of Administration, including filing feed to the Register
All claims against the decedent as well as costs


In the Petition to Establish a Finding of Death

RG was living in Bellefonte with "longtime partner" PF

Friday, April 15, 2005 RG took a vacation day

11:30 PF received a call from RG that he was going for a drive on Route 192 in Penns Valley and would be unable to care for their dog that afternoon.

PF notified LE that RG was missing at 11:30 pm on April 15th

April 29 2005 a $10,000 reward was offered. An anonymos donor supplied an additional $5,000 making the total reward fund for $15,000 [that flies in the face of other documentation in the packet].

On our about January 1, 2006, B Buehner and T McNight called for the Attorney General to take over the investigation. The AG declined to get involved, citing a statuatory lack of jurisdiction.

 

[Trackergd]

Oh an J.J., You are listed as a "blogger JJ form Phila" who is featured in the Centre Daily Times and on the CDT website continues to provide a running commentary on the investigation.

:drumroll:

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Respectfully snipped (as always):

At least two other documents list "Balance to Lara A. Gricar".


Some facts from Petition for Settlement of Small Estate
Filed July 25, 2011

Petitioner Lara Gricar (address in Washington State)
List of principal address in Bellefonte PA
Dies interstate, unmarried and with no other children
Petitioner is the only party beneficially interested in the estate
Gross value not exceeding $25,000
All claims are undisputed and will be paid in full
No parties beneficially interested in the estate, no claims that are denied and no claims that will not be paid who are required to be joined in this petition or to receive notice hereof

Petition to be granted:
Cost of Administration, including filing feed to the Register
All claims against the decedent as well as costs

A few things. No one else claimed a chuck of the estate; the estate owed no money. That was expected, but now it is confirmed.

It would have been possible (and legal, I'd assume) for LG to shelter some assets over the six years; one possibility would be an annuity. We'd need an accounting of the estate assets in early 2005. The amount is small, and smaller that LE reported just over $100 K. Technically, half of that would be LG's for estate purposes, because it was a joint account. She would not have had a great deal to move. (I'd assume that most if not all of the money was put there by RFG; if not, he'd have lower assets.)

It would be possible for RFG to sheltered those assets prior to 4/15/05. That would present some problems, from a practical standpoint. If he needed the money, he might not have been able to access it.

When that sheltering happened would also be key, if RFG did that. If RFG was sheltering assets and he did it close to the time he disappeared, that could indicate whatever happened to him was voluntary, i.e. he had a good idea he wouldn't be there. Both walkaway and suicide are voluntary.

On me being mentioned, yes, I was aware that "Sporadic Comments" was cited as a media source. I have done several blogs on the media coverage and have noted that it was substantial, though it has slackened.

 

[SuperSmith]

RG Life Insurance policy?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

RG Life Insurance policy?

That is both a very good question and a potential explanation for the low assets.

I've been talking about estate planning, which is a good thing to do. There are various types of life insurance; the benefits from them are not subject to inheritance tax (LG's would be 7.5%).

The is a type of life insurance known as "single premium life insurance." You give the insurance company a large single premium and they write you a policy. While I do not have the tables, hypothetically, someone in his mid-50's might be able to go to insurance company and say, **Here is $20,000. If I give it all to you, how much insurance will you give me?** That might be $50,000, 2.5 times what you but in. If the insured is hit by a bus the next day after the policy is approved, his heir gets $50,000. If he dies of old age at 90, his heir gets $50,000 (possibly with some interest or additional insurance). The insured doesn't have to pay another cent. Some companies will sell it people in their 70's, though $20,000 then might only buy $25,000.

It would have been possible that RFG had money in his bank account and decided to do that. For that, the only tangible thing he'd have is a piece of paper. It wouldn't be readily apparent. We can point to the Mini and come up with a price range. We can hear about the desk top, and come up with a reasonable price range. We won't necessarily hear about a piece of paper in a file.

There are a number of similar things dealing with estate planning that could account for low assets; this is just an example. The key questions would be, did he do that? If so, when did he do that? Many polices have a period of time where they won't cover suicide (I think it is two years in PA).

In other words, there could be explanations for the seemingly low assets, but that might also give us a clue about what happened.

Hypothetically:

1. RFG has $50 k in the bank. If he dies, LG gets it, but has to pay 7.50% on it. She ends up with $46,250.

2. RFG takes the $50 and gets a single premium life insurance which will have a death benefit of $125 k. If he dies, LG gets $125 k and pays no inheritance tax. She is $78,750 ahead.

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here.

 

[SuperSmith]

I imagine someone RG's age would've at least looked into purchasing an additional policy. The County offered a small benefit at no charge.

"Life insurance: Full-time employees receive $20,000 life insurance at no cost"

http://centrecountypa.gov/index.aspx?nid=176

 

[Trackergd]

I imagine someone RG's age would've at least looked into purchasing an additional policy. The County offered a small benefit at no charge.

"Life insurance: Full-time employees receive $20,000 life insurance at no cost"

http://centrecountypa.gov/index.aspx?nid=176

And one would assume that RG could have purchased additional coverage if he had wished.

I am not sure what the rules of privacy would be on his bank and County pay records since he is deceased. One of the documents I have has his SS number on it. I was surprised it was not blacked out.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

It would depend on a few things.

Did he purchase some earlier in life (when it is cheaper)? What type?

Today, some types of what looks like term life insurance could provide $250,000 in coverage for less than $4200 per year. http://www.wholesaleinsurance.net/

The value might decrease, so it isn't a good policy fore estate planning.

Whole life, with a fixed premium, would be about $7300 per year for $150 K, if RFG bought it the year he disappeared. If he bought it at 55, it would cost around $6000 per year. At 35, about $2000 per year. http://www.gerberlife.com/gl/view/guide_products/whole_life/index.jsp That would also increase in value and the cost would stay the same.

A single premium policy would, however, explain why there seems to be so little money. A single premium payment at age 60 would be $59 K for $100 K coverage (and I think the value would increase, on top of that). At 55, $100 k would cost around $52 k. http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/life_annuity/life/whole/single-premium-life.asp

I know I sound like an insurance company advertizement, but it would be good estate planning tool. There are probably some other methods as well.

 

[SeekingJana]

I tend to think he purchased a term life policy when Lara was small, and probably put it with family papers somewhere and forgot about it.
The purchase of life insurance BEFORE he retired that same year and within a year or two before he disappeared would be a huge red flag on many levels, I think.

However, there is one point that makes me wonder if he did get a policy issued. We know he apparently did not have annual medical wellness physicals. It has been stated that he had no known health issues without a caveat that he didn't have yearly medical assessments. A hypothesis can be made that the physical exam referred to as confirming his health was related to the issuance of a life insurance policy. I don't know, of course, but I do remember performing these thorough physical exams for a national insurance company when I was very young because they paid RNs quite well.

I think it would have been extremely imprudent if he had even attempted to acquire life insurance for a period of a year before he disappeared IF his departure was planned. This time frame also clashes with his needs post- retirement ( assuming he was planning on traveling with Patty, etc. after retirement).

Next, what about Patty?
Is it reasonable to think he didn't plan any type of annuity for her in the event of his death?

I don't know that he spent one dime of his savings on insurance policies but the time frame of his upcoming retirement may have made a difference. I remember how my dad, a State employee, and my mother, had to make difficult decisions regarding health and life insurance coverage continuance and supplementation when my dad retired at an age slightly younger than Ray's age. To their extreme disadvantages, they dropped all group coverage.

 

[Trackergd]

We seem to be trying to explain how there could be so little in the estate given his pay scale.

One theory is that he purchased single payment life insurance that one would assume would end up in LG's hands. What about his long time partner? Did he spend his money on physical things in her name that would not need to be left in a will? If that were fact, it would indicate long term planning for both his partner and daughter and give the impression that he knew he was not going to be around, and one might wonder if they might have known as well and he had this all planned out for them.

What would cause him to plan ahead for his daughter and partner with no plans for himself? Just one more thread to tug on.

With his income and the only tangible asset was a red Mini. Quite the conundrum. Also curious as to who got the Mini and why it was not part of the estate given the small amount...

What this documentation shows is there is a huge hunk of income unaccounted for with the documents we have in hand.

 

[SeekingJana]

We seem to be trying to explain how there could be so little in the estate given his pay scale.

One theory is that he purchased single payment life insurance that one would assume would end up in LG's hands. What about his long time partner? Did he spend his money on physical things in her name that would not need to be left in a will? If that were fact, it would indicate long term planning for both his partner and daughter and give the impression that he knew he was not going to be around, and one might wonder if they might have known as well and he had this all planned out for them.

What would cause him to plan ahead for his daughter and partner with no plans for himself? Just one more thread to tug on.

With his income and the only tangible asset was a red Mini. Quite the conundrum. Also curious as to who got the Mini and why it was not part of the estate given the small amount...

What this documentation shows is there is a huge hunk of income unaccounted for with the documents we have in hand.

Tracker, the Mini belonged to Patty, also. He bought it for her, it was always titled/ licensed in her name.

 

[Trackergd]

Tracker, the Mini belonged to Patty, also. He bought it for her, it was always titled/ licensed in her name.

Ah... Thanks!

So the big mystery is what did he do with his income...... Offshore, Insurance, Physical items for Patty and LG....

 

[SeekingJana]

Ah... Thanks!

So the big mystery is what did he do with his income...... Offshore, Insurance, Physical items for Patty and LG....

Those are the questions we had hoped the documents you got in Centre County would help us with.
Without prejudice, I would like to state my personal opinion that it seems he hid things very well.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

RFG did help out PEF with some of the bills, so that could have been part of it. We don't know of any big ticket items that he bought her, other than the Mini and the desktop (and he used both).

There are basically four types of situations where someone buys life insurance.

1. A small child, either to give them a nest egg or to cover burial costs if the child dies young.

2. A small policy to cover burial of an adult.

3. A spouse/parent to protect the loved one in case the spouse/parent dies young. Some times "term insurance" will cover that, the value of the insurance will drop or the price will go up.

4. As a method of estate planning. You, or your estate, generally will make money off of it and the payment will be tax exempt. You do tie up money in that.

Points 1-3 are not applicable in RFG's case.

Now, I could see LG limiting her inheritance tax by doing some estate planning. That would be good financial practice.

I could see RFG doing some estate planning, which is also good financial practice. I could not understand why the Gricar family nor the police not revealing that in general terms, saying, **The reason the money is so low is because he had it in a trust for his daughter,** or **because he had done some estate planning right after his 2001 divorce.**

I think we are talking about one of three things:

1. LG did some estate planning, and there is nothing wrong with that.

2. RFG did some estate planning, but it was close to the time he disappeared.

3. RFG moved some money to an unknown location.

#2 would point to walkaway or suicide. #3 would point to a long term motive, at least, to walk away.

 

[SuperSmith]

I had heard he paid off her mortgage, did some improvements to the home, and took some trips all of which could have been a fairly big number put together.

 

[SuperSmith]

We seem to be trying to explain how there could be so little in the estate given his pay scale.

One theory is that he purchased single payment life insurance that one would assume would end up in LG's hands. What about his long time partner? Did he spend his money on physical things in her name that would not need to be left in a will? If that were fact, it would indicate long term planning for both his partner and daughter and give the impression that he knew he was not going to be around, and one might wonder if they might have known as well and he had this all planned out for them.

What would cause him to plan ahead for his daughter and partner with no plans for himself? Just one more thread to tug on.

With his income and the only tangible asset was a red Mini. Quite the conundrum. Also curious as to who got the Mini and why it was not part of the estate given the small amount...

What this documentation shows is there is a huge hunk of income unaccounted for with the documents we have in hand.

Perhaps an undisclosed illness? Perhaps he felt threatened? Or perhaps good planning on his part being that after 30 years of prosecuting he had made plenty of enemies.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I had heard he paid off her mortgage, did some improvements to the home, and took some trips all of which could have been a fairly big number put together.

I'm not too sure RFG paid it off, but he did help her out with the bills which would include the mortgage (he was not paying rent). That is actually in $25,000/year calculation for his living expenses (some of that might explain why my estimations on his expenses are more generous).

There would also be a question of how much the mortgage was. It was her parent's home, so I'd assume that PEF bought out her siblings' share. She had also been living there prior to RFG moving in, so she would have paying some of any mortgage before he arrived.

 

[SuperSmith]

I'm not too sure RFG paid it off, but he did help her out with the bills which would include the mortgage (he was not paying rent). That is actually in $25,000/year calculation for his living expenses (some of that might explain why my estimations on his expenses are more generous).

There would also be a question of how much the mortgage was. It was her parent's home, so I'd assume that PEF bought out her siblings' share. She had also been living there prior to RFG moving in, so she would have paying some of any mortgage before he arrived.

I tend to believe he did pay off the mortgage however I do not think it was a lot. I believe her property was assessed at a mere 60k. He could have been paying the property taxes too.