A woman who collected $10,000 in life insurance proceeds after the 2015 death of a Baton Rouge man she claimed to be married to was indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder, accused of poisoning him, our media partners at The Advocate report.
Meshell Hale, 50, could face the death penalty if convicted as charged in the death of Damian Skipper, 41, but East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office has neither discussed nor decided on the death penalty issue, the newspaper reports.
Hale also remains under investigation in the 2016 death of her legal husband, 42-year-old Arthur Noflin Jr., whose body was found burned beyond recognition in the back seat of a pickup in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, authorities have said. Hale has not been arrested in his death, The Advocate reports.
She also is trying to collect $750,000 in life insurance proceeds as the sole beneficiary on Noflin’s policy, but Noflin’s family is contesting her claim. A civil court case involving the $750,000 has been put on hold until the completion of criminal proceedings against Hale, the newspaper reports.
Investigators have been looking at Hale’s daughter Dominique Hale and her partner, Nina Alexander, in the possible dumping of Noflin’s body and truck in New Orleans. Noflin lived in Baton Rouge, the Advocate reports.
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