Fears Nachawati trial lawyer Matthew McCarley was featured in an episode of the true crime show “In Ice Cold Blood,” detailing the murder-for-hire of a 69-year-old woman who was killed for her $5 million life insurance policies.
In 2014, Anita Fox was found fatally stabbed inside a Colleyville house where she worked as a housekeeper. Bernard “Little Joe” Gorman and his father, Bernard “Big Joe” Gorman, were arrested for the murder, with the police investigation uncovering a complex insurance fraud scheme involving Ms. Fox’s daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Mark Buckland.
The investigation revealed that over the course of several years, the Bucklands had taken out a series of life insurance policies on Ms. Fox, naming themselves as sole beneficiaries. Following the recommendation of an insurance agent, the couple brought in the Gormans, members of a nomadic ethnic clan known as Irish Travellers, as third-party investors. Looking for immediate returns, the pair allegedly stalked and murdered Ms. Fox, who has been identified as a member of the English Travellers, another nomadic ethnic group.
Represented by Mr. McCarley and Brice Burris of Fears Nachawati, Ms. Fox’s son and estate executor, Al Fox III, filed suit to prevent the Bucklands from profiting from the insurance policies. Though the couple has never been charged criminally in the murder, a jury in the 2018 civil case found that they were instrumental in crafting the insurance scheme that led to Ms. Fox’s death. Jurors awarded her son $166 million.
“Five years after her death, the scheme is still shocking in its sheer audacity,” said Mr. McCarley. “They have not faced criminal charges for their role in the murder, but the one thing that Mr. Fox can take comfort in is knowing that his sister and brother-in-law will never profit financially from his mother’s death.”
Hosted by actor and rapper Ice-T, “In Ice Cold Blood” is broadcast on the Oxygen Network. The episode “Gypsy Grandma” aired on April 8, 2019.
Fears Nachawati represents individuals and businesses in cases involving public entities, private entities, mass torts, serious personal injury, auto accidents, drug and medical device cases, and wrongful death. For more information on the firm, visit https://fearslaw.wpengine.com.