Globe Life dumps 200K into court registry while murder investigation continues

Globe Life and Accident Insurance Co. recently dumped more than $197,000 into a court registry, asking the court to hold the funds while police investigate the beneficiaries of a life insurance policy for murder.

As previously reported, Globe Life filed a petition in interpleader against Latoya, Jarvis and Aerius Fontenot on Aug. 26 in Jefferson County District Court, asserting that the beneficiaries may not be entitled to the money because they may have been involved in the murder of the policy holder, Johnny Caddy.

Court records show that a final default judgment was entered on May 14, stating that $197,750 will be put in the court registry until the Fontenots can be ruled out as suspects.

The judgment was granted since the defendants failed to answer the petition.

According to the judgment, the original life insurance policy is worth $200,000. However, $2,250 was deducted for Global Life's attorney's fees and court costs.

In its petition, Globe Life claims Caddy, 54, had a life insurance policy through it when he was murdered on June 22, 2008. Caddy was shot three times in the head at his home in the Sweetgum Lane Apartments in Beaumont.

Following Caddy's death, defendant Latoya Fontenot, who was Caddy's daughter, filed a claim for the proceeds from her father's insurance policy, the suit states.

Although Globe has available funds to pay Fontenot, it does not want to pay her because she has not been ruled out as a suspect in her father's death, the complaint says.

Lawrence B. Greer of Greer and Shropshire in Houston represents Globe.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, is presiding over the case.

Case No. D190-730