In this episode, Jill explores one of the most fascinating intersections of true crime and estate law: the slayer statute. She dives into a real 2025 Michigan Court of Appeals case involving a trust, an unexpected beneficiary, an alleged murder-for-hire plot, and two deaths by natural causes. The big question: Can you inherit from someone you planned—but failed—to kill? The answer reveals just how narrow the slayer statute really is and why understanding your estate plan matters more than you think.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The Case Background

• The trust Donald created just 10 days before his death — classic death-bed planning.
• Why Elaine and Donnie tried to terminate the trust only months later.

Red Flags in the Trust Administration

• How the trustee, Michael, not a family member, was also a future beneficiary.
• The unusually fast removal of Michael as trustee by the probate court.
• Why the probate court denied Elaine’s request to unwind the transfers to the trust.

The Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot

• Daniel’s claim to be Donald’s illegitimate son and his accusation that Michael offered him $400,000 to kill Elaine and Donnie.
• Daniel’s testimony, his sudden death, and how the loss of the key witness led prosecutors to dismiss the charges.

How the Slayer Statute Works (and Doesn’t Work)

• Michigan’s rule: only those who feloniously and intentionally kill the decedent are barred from inheriting.
• Why attempted murder, solicitation, conspiracy, or planning does not trigger the statute.

Big Lessons for Listeners

• Rushed or unclear estate planning invites confusion, litigation, and unintended beneficiaries.

Resources & Links

Jill’s Estate Plan Audit: https://www.deathreadiness.com/audit

Episode 41: Why Losing Your Original Will Could Cost Your Family Everything

Episode 44: Avoiding the Hidden Tax Trap in Lifetime Gifts

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: jill@deathreadiness.com
• Learn more about Jill’s services
• Subscribe to the Death Readiness Dispatch!
• Submit a question for Tuesday Triage

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This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.