Porter County murder trial focuses on $1.1 million insurance policy

March 01--The trial of a Center Township man charged with murdering his wife a year ago changed direction Monday as prosecutors presented evidence on what they call his motive: a $1.1 million life insurance policy.

Gregory Mirabelli, an investigator for MetLife, testified that Melinda Kirby Lindsey, then 22, took out a $1 million life insurance policy on herself in March 2014 and included an additional $100,000 in case of an accidental death.

Porter County prosecutors have argued her husband, Steven Lindsey, 36, killed her on Jan. 16, 2015, in order to claim that money.

Mirabelli told the jury that his company first learned Melinda Lindsey died when an attorney for her husband called on Jan. 22, 2015, about a week after she died. A MetLife representative then spoke with Lindsey that day and again the next day, when Lindsey asked for a claim form to be faxed to him.

Mirabelli added that Lindsey called again on Feb. 10, 2015, to ask about the status of the claim but added that Lindsey never actually filed the claim.

The insurance company, which started to investigate the claim once they learned Melinda Lindsey died, decided to reject any claim after they learned the Lindseys had lied about some of her medical information and by claiming Steven Lindsey also had a life insurance policy for himself when he didn't.

Girabelli told the jury that although the Lindseys had not made their December 2014 payment on the policy, it was still valid for 31 days, which covered when she died.

Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek asked Porter County Judge William Alexa to play four recorded calls made to MetLife, including a call played during the last trial in which Melinda Lindsey is applying for the policy and her husband can be heard in the background telling her to make him the beneficiary.

Alexa allowed her to play one call but then objected to playing more, saying they weren't needed.

"We're taking too much time," he said.

Polarek noted that they played the calls during the last trial, but the judge remained unconvinced.

"I don't care how you did it last time," he said. "...I don't want another mistrial."

In the one call that was played for the jury, Steven Lindsey can be heard asking for quotes on life insurance for both himself and Melinda Lindsey, who was then his fiancee. He can be heard chatting with the agent about his background, his work as an electrical line worker and his dislike of Facebook and the Internet.

"I live a fairly simple life," Lindsey can be heard saying.

The trial is expected to continue Tuesday.

[email protected]

___

(c)2016 the Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.)

Visit the Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.) at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.