“Death Benefit: A Lawyer Uncovers a 20-year Pattern of Seduction, Arson, and Murder” is a gripping narrative penned by David Heilbroner and Steven Keeney, delving into the realms of human deception, criminality, and the pursuit of justice. The story unfolds as Steve Keeney, a prosperous corporate lawyer from Louisville, finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue when a woman from his church, Bobbie Roberts, seeks his assistance in a seemingly straightforward matter.
The tale commences with a tragic incident – the death of Bobbie’s daughter, Deana, in a cliff fall at Big Sur, California. Bobbie, struggling to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles of collecting burial insurance, seeks Keeney’s legal expertise. Little did Keeney anticipate that this seemingly routine favor would thrust him into a labyrinth of deceit and malevolence.
The official coroner’s report points to a couple named B.J. and Virginia McGinnis as the individuals who accompanied Deana to the fatal cliff. Strangely, Virginia had purchased a life insurance policy for Deana just a day before the incident, raising suspicions in Keeney’s discerning mind. Despite the coroner’s report, the authorities in Big Sur decide to close the case due to the absence of witnesses other than the McGinnises.
Undeterred by official apathy, Keeney, true to his commitment to Bobbie, embarks on an independent investigation. What unravels is a chilling narrative of Virginia McGinnis, a woman with a dark past marked by a series of deaths, fires, thefts, poisonings, and insurance schemes. Virginia, disguising herself as a practical nurse, leaves behind a trail of tragedy that includes her three-year-old daughter, husband, and mother – all meeting their demise in her company. Keeney stumbles upon a disturbing pattern: Virginia’s two sons have faced murder charges.
As Keeney connects the dots, a sinister portrait of a remorseless killer emerges – someone who has skillfully manipulated the system for two decades, leaving a trail of destruction and collecting insurance payouts along the way. David Heilbroner, a former prosecutor acclaimed for “Rough Justice,” meticulously retraces Keeney’s investigation in “Death Benefit.” This process spans two-and-a-half years, capturing the accounts of witnesses whose voices were overlooked during Virginia’s sensational two-month murder trial.
In “Death Benefit,” Heilbroner skillfully weaves a tale that goes beyond the confines of a true-crime narrative. It evolves into a powerful human drama and a courtroom thriller, where decency and courage triumph over the malevolence that permeates Virginia’s actions. The narrative reaches its zenith during the murder trial, where the jury is literally taken to the edge of the Big Sur cliff, a symbolic journey mirroring the precipice of justice.
Published by Harmony in February 1993, this exceptional work falls within the category of Social Science, General. “Death Benefit” stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of truth by a Kentucky lawyer, Steve Keeney, and the unwavering dedication of former prosecutor David Heilbroner to unveil a narrative that transcends the boundaries of a conventional true-crime thriller.