Durham couple took out life insurance before wife’s murder [The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)]

May 16--DURHAM -- Insurance agents testified Wednesday that Raven and Janet Abaroa each took out long-term life insurance policies eight months before Janet was stabbed to death at the couple's Ferrand Drive Home.

Scott Lanier, a Hillsborough insurance agent, recalled Raven and Janet Abaroa applying for separate policies as well as a renter's insurance policy which Raven Abaroa made a claim on for a stolen personal computer shortly after his wife's death.

Abaroa, 33, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his pregnant wife. He says he found his wife's body in an upstairs room upon returning from a soccer game in Orange County.

"They wanted (life insurance) because she was pregnant at the time," Lanier said. "That was one issue. ... There was a combination of things we discussed."

Lanier agreed with defense attorney Amos Tyndall that term life insurance is good deal, a lot of coverage for not a lot of money.

"Yes, particularly at their ages," Lanier said.

Two other agents detailed the process by which Abaroa, named as his wife's primary beneficiary, tried to collect on her life insurance policy after her death and inquired about using the money to set up a trust fund for their son Kaiden.

The policies the Abaroas took out had contestability clauses, stating that a death within two years of the policy being taken out would warrant a fraud investigation.

An agent agreed with the defense that anyone who took out these kinds of policies would be aware of the clause.

Abaroa's claim is pending.

Porter: 919-593-7884

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