A FATHER who murdered his wife and son got away with it for years years - until police discovered his shocking motive for killing his family. Karlsen. It was a funeral for Carl. While they were growing up, another fire broke out in the horse barn in 2002, claiming the lives of three horses and earning Karl another insurance payout, but it would be Levis death that would reward him with the biggest payday. In 1991, Christina Karlsen was killed in a house fire. Karlsen left California with his three children two weeks later and used the $200,000 life insurance money to buy a home in New York. "Then I want him to go away for the rest of forever. Karl Karlsen, 60, was found guilty earlier this month of first-degree murder by arson for setting fire to his family's home in California in 1991 that killed his then-wife and the mother of their three children, Christina Karlsen. 'At the time, I was six years old. Karlsen has been charged with killing Christina Karlsen on New Year's Day 1991 in a fire "for financial gain. Fires, he revealed to the police in 2012, have somehow always caused ruin around him, making him go through Hell in every freakin way. After all, on new years day in 1991, his California home went up in flames and killed his wife. Before the death of his son Levi in 2008, for which he received a $700,000 life insurance payout, his first wife Christina perished in a house fire after getting trapped in the bathroom in 1991. After Levi's death, Karlsen's second wife Cindy Best secretly recorded him admitting to letting Levi, Betty Brodericks Divorce Settlement and Details. GTN News, Mother-son and grandson assaulted, all three seriously injured Mother-son and grandson assaulted, all three seriously injured Karlsens defense attorney, Richard Esquivel, told The Washington Post Thursday morning that he is planning to appeal. During the meeting, Karl never admitted killing his son but told Cindy he took advantage of the opportunity, Cleere said. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He used that money to move his family to Seneca County, New York. Karl Karlsen's daughter Erin speaks exclusively with "20/20.". In 1991, Christina Karlsen was killed in a house fire. What makes you think they're going to get me now?". A FATHER who murdered his wife and son got away with it for years years - until police discovered his shocking motive for killing his family. Levi, a married father of two young daughters, died on November 20, 2008 in an apparent accident when he was just 23. Karl Karlsen and his three children, Levi, Erin and Katie, escaped the home. The deaths of Christina and Levi Karlsen were initially deemed accidents, but eventually information emerged revealing their husband and father Karl Karlsen had killed them intentionally. Q', What does YOUR face say about you? Nearly three decades after the fatal fire, the Calaveras County, Calif., jury convicted Karlsen of first-degree murder by arson in Christinas death, finding that he killed her for financial gain before moving to New York and killing his son by concocting a similar scheme. "We ask the questions that you would ask - and demand answers." Seneca County Sheriffs Office eventually carried out a sting operation collecting enough evidence to try and convict Karl Karlsen of both murders, sending him in prison. Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? A court date has yet to be announced. Calaveras County, Calif., jury convicted Karlsen of first-degree murder. Ask Amy: Two women are having my babies. In 2012, Cindy Best. "They were controlling everything. Christina died of smoke inhalation in a small bathroom in which. Karl Karlsen has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Christina Karlsen, though the death had initially been ruled an accident. After Karlsen was charged with his son's murder, police in California reopened the investigation into his first wife's death, eventually bringing formal charges against him. And on Monday, a California jury returned a verdict: That wasnt an accident either. He was walked up to the house and he was kind of kicking at the concrete foundation, um, and then turned around and came back after you know, a few minutes. Karlsen, 52, is in a jail cell in Romulus, N.Y., facing charges of second-degree murder and insurance fraud in the death of his son and Erin's brother, Levi Karlsen. As Levi writhed in agony, Karlsen turned up the volume on the radio, masking his sons screams. The family relocated to the Fingerlakes region of New York in the town of Varick, where they lived on a farm. His son was crushed under a truck. In 1991, Karlsen moved the children to Varick, N.Y., his hometown, within a few days after Christinas death, before she had even been buried. From everything that was explained to me, that jack slipped is what I was told. ', When the reporter presses Karlsen on whether he considers himself 'a victim of bad luck,' he offers a vague response, saying: 'If I told you everything, you wouldn't believe what's happened to me.'. She eventually decided to hire a private detective to investigate how Karlsen was spending the $700,000 in life insurance. News never stops. I knew as soon as I heard that Levi was gone that [my father] had done it. DeRoche and Reynolds speak out in the previews for tonights ABC News 20/20. That investigation was concluded this week. 'He didn't make an effort to save her. I just didnt know what was the reasoning behind it but yeah, I was pretty confident that it was not an accident, not at all., Growing up with their father Karl Karlsen, these sisters are no strangers to tragedy. Karl Karlsen was convicted of murder for rigging a truck to fall on his son. In "Secrets of a Successful Marriage", she and Carl were attending Homer's marriage class. When they returned home, Cindy placed a frantic call to 911 reporting that the truck had fallen on her stepson and crushed his chest. Karlsen collected $200,000 in life insurance that he had taken out on Christina just 20 days before her death, according to a court document. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. The fire itself was the result of a series of incredible coincidental accidents, Karlsen would soon tell investigators. She was born on September 2,. NEW TONIGHT: The Sins of the Father | Dont miss the stunning new @DavidMuir 20/20 event special TONIGHT at 9|8c on ABC. On New Year's Day in 1991, Christina, who was 30 at the time, died trapped in the bathroom of the couple's home in Murphys, California, after spilled kerosene and a faulty electric light ignited a fire. So, on March 17, he was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole. I started screaming, Christinas mother, Arlene Meltzer, told CNBC's American Greed of learning of her daughters demise. Photo: He was born in Boston, Mass. Levi's death, like his mother's 17 years prior, was initially ruled an accident. After all, on new year's day in 1991, his California home went up in flames and killed his wife. The deaths of Christina and Levi Karlsen were. In November of 2013, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his sons death and received a sentence of 15 years to life. Erin said. Her death had initially been ruled an accident. "Between the two of uswe knew, because he didn't try," Erin said. Carla enjoyed traveling to locations where she could enjoy all of her favorite past times including spending . "I didn't understand that my mother was behind that wall dying," Erin told "20/20" at the time, adding that her father "didn't make an effort to save her. Christina Karlsen was 30 when she died. The shocking details of the murder family saga are being explored in NBC Dateline's July 2, 2022, In February of 2020, Karl was found guilty of first-degree murder by arson in that case as well and sentenced to life without parole. Aside from his death, there was no new evidence the DAs office could point to to justify Mr. Karlsens prosecution. Details about the case reveal a long saga of physical and mental abuse that ultimately resulted in an insurance scheme and two murders. Her death had been initially ruled an accident. ', Has mystery of Canadian singer's fatal 2009 mauling by coyotes finally been solved? He married Evelyn Nell Wright December 20 . Karl will start the life penalty in California after he completes his term in New York. After the fire, Karl was awarded $215,000 from an insurance policy and he moved the family across the country to New York. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? The first happened on New Years Day in 1991, in his home, a former gold miners shack in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Eventually a possible motive surfaced, leading investigators to realize they had a murder on their hands. But it wouldnt be the only tragedy to impact the family. Levi was 23 and had two young children. Bousson suggested Christina leave Karl, but Christina wanted her children to grow up with both parents in the home. Rihanna and boyfriend A$AP Rocky show off their adorable baby son in stunning beach photoshootas singer shares first TikTok clip of the seven month-old infant, Rihanna shares FIRST look of her son, seven months, in the backseat of her car while making her TikTok debut, Pregnant Hilary Swank shows off her baby bump as she trims her Christmas tree as she prepares to welcome twins, Buyer beware! GTN News, The federal government withdrew the application to reject Shahbaz Guls bail 504 West Walnut Street Ozark, MO CARLA CARLSON OBITUARY Carla Marie Carlson, age 59, passed away on January 06, 2023, surrounded by her family in Springfield, MO. Investigators in California found the amount of coincidences that led to the fatal fire to be incredible, as one told the Post-Standard in 2012, but once Karlsen left town, the investigation ended. Levi Karlsen, right, shown with his sister Erin and his ex-wife, was killed in what was initially ruled an accident when the truck he was working on fell off its jack and onto him in 2008. His children have been left to deal with the agonizing realization that their father was a cold-blooded killer. Unlike his case in New York state, if convicted in this new case in California, Karlsen could face the death penalty. The story behind changing retail numbers, with Former DVF CEO Sandra Campos, Moderna's mRNA RSV vaccine propels stock gains, CNBC's investment committee on the Fed's data dependency, The upside in 2023 is going to be driven by earnings, says NewEdge's Rob Sechan. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Used for. Since Christina Karlsen was killed in a house fire, it was originally ruled to be an accident. Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi slaps down Democratic House Judiciary Committee member Ted Lieu for accusing him of 'lying' about FBI flagging up social media accounts, Pope orders return of 2,500-year-old Parthenon pieces to Greece that have been in Vatican's collection for more than a century, Protester is banned from woke school board meeting after dressing up as controversial trans teacher with Z-cup prosthetic breasts to demand they are all fired - before being escorted out by police, Timberrr! On New Years Day in 1991, Christina Karlsen, a young mother of three died, after the familys home was engulfed in flames. In "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday", Carl mentions he will give a ring to her for their anniversary. GTN News, Microsoft, the decision to cut 10 thousand jobs Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "He was basically an indentured servant to my parents," Erin said. According to Oxygen, Christina decided to go against the advice of her loved ones and stay with Carl for the children. Karl Karlsen collected a $200,000 life insurance payout after his first wife died, but hadn't been charged in anything related to her death until now. Levi Karlsen, 23, was crushed to death in 2008 when the truck he was working on slipped off a jack and landed on top of him. The shocking details of the Carlson familys story are revealed in a new episode. Christina and Levy were killed 10 years apart, and both were initially considered accidents. In a jailhouse interview with the Post-Standard as he awaited trial, Karlsen blamed his arrest on a vindictive wife, saying how unusual it was that she came forward to the police in the middle of their divorce. We knew what he had done to our mother, DeRoche exclusively told 20/20. Christina Karlsenwho had been taking a bathgot trapped in the bathroom of the home and died in the blaze, leaving behind her husband Karl and three small children, who had all managed to safely escape the flames. As a goofy and often misunderstood metal music lover, he never truly got along with his military-trained father. Two years after Levi's death, Karl's second wife, Cindy Best, began to grow suspicious of her then-husband and hired a. "What if I had said something earlier?" Deroche said she and her brother Levi were about 11 or 12 when they secretly discussed the possibility that their father was somehow involved in their mother's death. Karlsen has not been charged with anything related to his wife's death. The abusive husband became an abusive father, especially to his son Levi. A week after the fire, Karlsen left California for upstate New York with his three children to be near his family. All of his friends were there. Erin remembered noticing that a dresser that usually had been in the closet of the girls room was inexplicably placed in front of the rooms window. In late 2008, nearly 18 years after the fire, Karlsens 23-year-old son, Levi, died in yet another alleged freak accident, coincidentally on the same day Levi signed a will that left his entire estate to Karlsen. 2023 CNBC LLC. The bathroom window was boarded up because Christina had accidentally broken it three days earlier, Karlsen told them, according to a report in the Syracuse Post-Standard. GTN News, The minarets of the Ahmadi communitys place of worship in Karachi were demolished His son, Levi, was crushed under his fathers truck while he was repairing it in November 2008. Karl Karlsen claimed he heard his wife. Then in 2001, Levy was killed by a pickup truck, a fatal incident that was originally considered an accident. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Carl explained that he was going on a plane trip to Canada to see his folks. "The way he explained it. Investigators will later find out that the roots of both deaths were more dangerous, the Oxygen article said. Update: We just obtained the paperwork filed against Karl Karlsen in California. Cindy told the Post-Standard that she started having panic attacks in the years after Levis death. Retracing the tragic deaths of Christina Karlsen and Levi Karlsen, this chapter proves that actions will have consequences even if it takes a while for investigators to resolve the matters that initially just seem to be shrouded in mystery and bad luck. Erin said. He just stood there.". With Christina gone, his children say Karl took out most of his anger on them. 'Walmart Karen' who trashed Texas store orders taser-wielding cop to 'respect' her, then shrieks after being zapped as she topples to the ground, Cozy up to the softest faux fur blankets and throws around! Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Karl Karlsen is a hardworking man with what seems to be a terrible streak of bad luck. His wife and son both die in accidents nearly 20 years apart. Oct. 24, 2013 -- As Karl Karlsen awaits his trial for the death of his son, his daughter speaks out for the first time, telling ABC News' "20/20" that she has no . Not long before the blaze, DeRoche, who was just 6years old, remembered her father taking the familys Christmas tree out onto the gravel driveway and lighting it on fire in front of his three children because he wanted us to see how quick a house could burn, she said. Sitting next to Karlsen is his lawyer, Lawrence Kasperek. Between the two of uswe knew, because he didnt try, Erin said. There, he has a life sentence without parole, so although Karl Karlsen is still alive, he will be living out the rest of his life behind bars. Courtesy of the Karlsen Family. Daughter of Murder Suspect Karl Karlsen Believes Father Killed Her Brother, Mother, NY Man on Trial for Son's Murder Says He Left Him to Die in Never-Before-Heard Tape, Family Suspicion of N.Y. Man Leads to Reopening of Two Murder Investigations. He then moved to New York. Karl Karlsen is a hardworking man with what seems to be a terrible streak of bad luck. Investigators would later discover that both deaths had more sinister roots, the Oxygen article said. According to the family, Carl was mentally controlling and harassing his wife, Christina. Karl was extradited to California in 2016 and held at the Calaveras County Jail until he stood trial for Christinas first-degree murder. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. READ NEXT: Betty Brodericks Divorce Settlement and Details, Christina Karlsen, Karl Karlsens Murdered Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. "I started screaming," Christina's mother, Arlene Meltzer, told CNBC's "American Greed" of learning of her daughter's demise. Do not sell or share my personal information. Over lunch in November 2012, Cindy, by then estranged from Karlsen, demanded that he tell her the truth about how Levi died. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. "You know, that's not how people are supposed to act when someone they love is trapped and literally burning in front of them," Erin said. Great kid, Karls brother Michael Karlsen told producers. He feigned shock at discovering his dead son underneath the truck, frantically calling for Cindy to dial 911, according to court documents. Karlsen was sentenced in December to 15 years to life in state prison. He is preceded in death by his wife, Nan Whatley Carlson. Bousson remembered him referring to her slain sister as a crispy crittereven though the fire had never actually made it to the bathroomand the family packed up and moved back to New York less than a week after the fatal blaze. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. But the case would take a dramatic turn in 2012, when a relative of Karls wife Cindy called the Seneca County Sheriffs Office to suggest investigators take another look at Levis death. They relied on the same evidence they were shown and rejected 29 years ago.. Support syracuse.com, who pleaded guilty in November to killing his son, killing Christina Karlsen on New Year's Day 1991, Karl Karlsen bought a $700,000 life insurance policy, Some investigators with the California Department of Forestry. Cleere quickly got in touch with Cindy, who confirmed the story and agreed to wear a wire during a meeting with Karl. A father who killed his wife and son has been on the run for years until police find out his shocking motive for killing his family. Source: ABC. The woman Karl had been dating at the time of Levis death eventually put forward information to local New York authorities that raised enough questions to spur an investigation. Karl Karlsen's wife dies in fire. By 2012, however, Karls second wife had started having suspicions about her husbands actions and intentions. An old Chevy pickup truck fell on top of his chest, crushing it and killing him, while he was working underneath it doing repairs at his father's property in upstate New York. Thus, with Karl Karlsen identified and convicted as the perpetrator in both cases in question, lets uncover all that there is to know about him, shall we? Convicted killer Karl Karlsen, 60, sits down to an interview with NBC's Dateline to discuss the deaths of his first wife, Christina, and his son 17 years apart, Karlsen's son, Levi Karlsen, was 23 years old when he was crushed to death while repairing a truck on his father's property, The deaths of Christina and her son Levi Karlsen have enriched Karl by more than $900,000 in life insurance payouts. Would love your thoughts, please comment. After a family member gave police a tip about the large insurance policy, authorities opened an investigation into Levi's death in 2012. Karl Karlsen has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Christina Karlsen, though the death had initially been ruled an accident. Just hours later, the 23-year-old man, a father of two, laid on his back underneath the truck to take a look. ", Karlsen's case was featured in the past year on ABC's "20/20" and on NBC's "Dateline. (Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com). I couldnt even stop.. He went to a funeral with Cindy and returned four hours later. Carl Robert Carlson age 85, died on June 8, 2021 in Odessa, Texas. #ABC2020 is new tonight at 9/8c. fbq('track', "PageView"); Inside the shocking murder of Carl Carlson's wife Christina and son Levy, Christina Carlson dies in tragic house fire, during which she fails to escape from her bathroom. Karlsen's horses died in a barn fire as well, and his new car mysteriously blew up. Father Changes His Story About Killing His Son 17 Years After Wife's Death, When Christina Karlsen perished in a horrific house fire, her death was ruled an accident. In 2013, he plead guilty to second-degree murder. He would tell her that, you know, she was chubby, the womans sister Colette Bousson says in the American Greed episode. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Although, his other occupations over the years were similarly unusual. Then in 2008, a pickup truck fell off a jack while Levy was working on it and crushed his body to death, which again turned out to be a tragic accident. Her sister was also suspicious of her brother-in-law. I tried to push it out of the way, you know, I was too young to make it move but I gave it a go and shortly after that my father actually broke through the window and pushed the dresser out of the way, she said. Police began an investigation and in 2013, that investigation led to Karlsen pleading guilty to second-degree murder in Levis 2008 death. Friday on #ABC2020 at 9/8c. Christina was still trapped inside. Karls son Levi often suffered the worst of the abuse in the familys barn. All Rights Reserved. You know, to kill your own son and then not have any remorse thats not human, Barry Porsch, the former district attorney for Seneca County told American Greed.. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Settling down in Varick, Karlsen married Cindy in 1993, had another child with her and lived quietly on a farm until the second freak incident in 2008. The shocking details of the Karlsen family saga are explored in a new episode of NBC Dateline. Her death was officially listed as an accident, but her family members always suspected Karl Karlsen had killed her. The accommodations may have been rustic, but Christina found a way to make the wooded setting magical for the couples three children during long days home alone on the property. Credit: Calaveras County Sheriffs Office, Un Security Council Counter-terrorism Committee Meeting In Mumbai Eam Dr S Jaishankar News In Hindi I've had horses died, I've had a barn fire. In the years that would follow, Karl settled down with the family on a farm in Varick, New York, where he raised Belgium draft horses as a hobby. The deaths of Christina and Levi Carlson were initially thought to be accidents, but eventually information emerged that they had been deliberately killed by their husband and father, Carl Carlson. "NOOOOO!" Homer said sadly. Her husband, Karl Karlsen, collected a $200,000 insurance payout at the time. ", Here are the court papers filed today in Calaveras County, Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251. GTN News, Big rise in gold price once again Daily Ausaf The information eventually revealed that the husband and father, Carl Carlson, had murdered their family members and had accumulated heavy insurance policies after their deaths. ", ABC's Lauren Effron contributed to this report. At one point, the familys barn caught on fire killing multiple horses, garnering another lucrative insurance claim for Karl. The family moved to Warrick, Finger Lakes, New York, where they lived on a farm. Karl was subsequently charged and arrested with murder, and once he admitted to the monetary motive, Christina Karlsens case was reopened in California. Karl has since appealed his conviction in California. GTN News, #BoycottZara: Palestinians launch campaign to boycott Spanish fashion giant after it hosts Israeli far-right leader A father who killed his wife and son has been on the run for years - until police find out his shocking motive for killing his family. VIDEO: Part 2: Karl Karlsen's second wife Cindy Karlsen, who feared she would be his next target, helps police. 'What would you call it?' In March, Karl Karlsen, 60, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his first wife Christina Karlsen in a 1991 house fire in California. One of them was retired investigator Carl Kent, who said he always hoped Karlsen would "do something stupid" that would re-open the case. In the days that followed, her family would note Karls odd behavior. Christina and Karl Karlsen with their children, Levi, Kati and Erin. Before a packed courtroom at the Seneca County Courthouse, Karl Karlsen was sentenced in December to a 15 year to life sentence for the 2008 murder of his son Levi. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. GTN News. He knew because he was so sensitive to his weight that he could lose his self-esteem.. After a few minutes, his partner announced that he found Christina's body. Who the hell puts that kind of life insurance on a 4- and 6-year-old. The couple had three children together and settled in New York where Karl worked at a local stone quarry, but money was tight. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. According to Erin, their father helped his children get outside safely, and then they stood and watched the house burn. #ABC2020 pic.twitter.com/9wtHm767sq. With savings of up to 62%, you can feel good about splurging on these feel-good gifts for everyone on your list, Tech deal of the week: An ASUS Chromebook is reduced by more than half-price on Amazon to just $120 and that includes an 11-inch screen, lie-flat hinge and spill-resistant keypad, Happy families! It wasn't until Erin and her brother Levi were 11 or 12 when she said they secretly discussed the possibility that their father wasn't being truthful regarding their mother's death. Some investigators always suspected Karlsen set that fire, but his second wife, Cindy Karlsen, said had. Hell remain there until, at least, his parole eligibility date in 2027. GTN News, Senior officials, including Ukraines interior minister, were killed in a helicopter crash Im 92 but still rock minidresses - I've got a 2 secret to looking young, Baby among 6 festival-goers sliced to death by glass-encrusted kite strings, Maya Jama lined up for major Love Island deal after incredible show debut, BBC1's live FA Cup coverage hit by porn noises from mobile hidden by prankster, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. An upstate New York man who has been convicted of killing his first wife in a house fire and crushing his son with a truck for insurance money has likened the deaths to other instances of 'bad luck' in his life, including losing a horse and having a barn burn down. The woman, who was dating Carl Levy at the time of her death, eventually provided information to local New York authorities, which raised a number of questions to speed up the investigation. "He won't ever own up to Levi," Erin said. Karlsen pleaded guilty last year to killing his and Christina's son, Levi, in 2008 by knocking a truck off a jack while Levi worked under it in Karlsen's Seneca County garage. My sister is gone, three young kids grow up without a mom. The murders of Christina and Levi took place 10 years apart and were both initially deemed accidents. Her husband, Karl Karlsen, collected a $200,000 insurance payout at the time. Investigators didnt buy Karls claim that the death had been an accident and arrested him for second-degree murder. "We knew what he had done to our mother," Erin, exclusively told "20/20." His wife died in a house fire. On February 3, 2020, he was found guilty. Their home was enveloped in flames on New Years Day in 1991. Carla Marie Carlson, age 59, passed away on January 06, 2023, surrounded by her family in Springfield, MO. It was propped up on a wobbly jack. The Dateline episode also features new interviews with Karlsen's second wife, Cindy, who helped police bring him to justice by wearing a wire, Christine's sister Colette Bousson and Karl's brother, Mike Karlsen. Karlsen would later plead guilty on the same day his trial was scheduled to begin in 2013, but insisted on his innocence up until that moment. A few years later, however, new information would surface that put the blame squarely on Karl. Carlson in Secrets of a Successful Marriage Mrs. Carlson is the wife of Carl Carlson. Erin was 6 years old when she, Levi and their sister Katie escaped from the house fire that killed their mother. His death was initially ruled an accident, but Karlsen collected a $700,000 life insurance payout after the incident, raising suspicions. To learn more about the chilling case, tune in to "American Greed" on CNBC Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In 2012, Cindy Best was suspicious of her husband and feared for her own life, so she told the police of her suspicions and began to wear a wire while talking to her husband. Eventually, someone close to the family came forward with information about Karls involvement spurring an investigation that revealed the man had murdered his loved ones and used their deaths to secure hefty insurance payouts. Fearing Karlsen may be planning to kill her, she took her their son, Alexander, and fled to Kentucky to live with a cousin. GTN News, Fawad Chaudhry will not return to PTIs National Assembly My mom used to take us on walks all the time and we would collect like leaves or acorns or whatever and press them into little books. With the help of fire investigator Ken Buskewho had kept his files on the case for decadesauthorities were able to determine the fire had been deliberately set right outside the bathroom, trapping Christina inside. Christinas was taken out 19 days prior. The caller told Undersheriff John Cleere that Cindy believed her estranged husband had killed his son. GTN News, How long will the government be forced to hold general elections, Imran Khan made a big claim Karlsen told investigators in 1991 that his wife had gone to take a bath in the tiny bathroom on the afternoon of New Year's Day, and he later heard her screaming for help as the fire raged in the hallway just outside the bathroom. This article was published more than2 years ago. Karl Karlsen bought a $700,000 life insurance policy on Levi just 17 days before Levi died, and collected the money a few months later. The jug had been accidentally spilled onto the hallway carpet by a cat and dog, he told investigators. I had to second-guess my entire life, Reynolds said of the murder trial for her mother. Now, Cindy had to ask the question: Could this really have been another coincidence? The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Maggie Roswell, Chris Edgerly, Eric Lopez, Alex Dsert, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jenny Yokobori . The deaths of Christina and Levi Carlson were initially thought to be accidents, but eventually information emerged that they had been deliberately killed by their husband and father, Carl Carlson. Karl's second wife, Cindy (right), helped police bring him to justice when in 2012 she agreed to wear a wire and elicited a partial confession from him about his son's death, 'That's not how people are supposed to act when someone they love is trapped and literally burning in front of them.'. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Karl collected $215,000 in insurance money for his wifes death. He wanted more than anything to just have a close relationship with our father.". GTN News, The President and Vice President of the USA enjoyed the hamburger "At the time, I was six years old. Why? Christina died in the blaze from smoke inhalation. Got a confidential news tip? Levi would get beat with anything that my father had within reach. Karl Karlsen and Christina Karlsen and their three children in Calaveras County, California. After that, he may stay there, or he may be moved to Calaveras County Jail in California, where he was found guilty in 2016 for the first-degree murder of his first wife, Christina. A week after the fire, Karl Karlsen and his three children left California for upstate New York to be near his family, and he eventually remarried. End of story! Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. The coincidences started getting to her. Thats just, thats ludicrous, thats obscene, Rood said of the chilling discovery. It also led California authorities to take a second look at the 1991 death of Christina Karlsen. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Hell tell her, you know, he was fat, the womans sister, Collett Bowson, says in the American Greed episode. NBC Date Line. When Karlsen faces trial in two weeks, a judge ruled that testimony about the California fire and Christina Karlsen's death is off limits. He later pleaded guilty in exchange for 15 years to life in prison. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Karl Karlsen was convicted of murdering both his wife, Christina Karlsen, and his son, Levi Karlsen, 17 years apart for insurance money. 3 And Karlsen had accidentally placed a defective electric light too close to the kerosene-soaked carpet, igniting the blaze. According to Bousson, Karl was also physically abusive, once slamming into her so hard that she flew across the room. Because the vehicle dropped due to his own actions and the plea agreement, the insurance fraud charges were dismissed. "And I knew what he did to my brother.". A Division of NBCUniversal. It was enough for investigators to bring Karl in for questioning. https://t.co/YVDe50R0xt pic.twitter.com/x3iVV0RbcU. GTN News. In a 2013 interview with ABC News, the couple's daughter Erin Deroche - who was just six at the time - recalled hearing her mother screaming as the fire burned. Though initially ruled as an accident, the authorities became suspicious when they realized that just 17 days prior to Levis death, his father had made him take out an insurance policy for himself and list Karl Karlsen as the sole beneficiary. He was just kind of standing around watching, she said. Years later, his second his son was crushed under a tru. She told him she had made up her mind about what he had done. Thus, today, at the age of 61, he is imprisoned at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. GTN News, Ali couples reaction to CM Jagans daughters wedding gift News18 Telugu Mr. Carlson, a native of Brooklyn, New York Erin was just six years old when her younger brother Levi, and their sister Katie, escaped from the house fire that killed their mother. The way he explained it made perfect sense to me, his second wife, Cindy Best, said of Christinas tragic death, speaking to the Post-Standard years later. She told the story of taking her sister to go get glamour shots done, and when they returned to Christinas home, she was immediately told to take off her makeup. Knowing this, Karlsen hopped into the trucks front cab causing the front-end of the truck to collapse onto his sons body, according to Karlsens own admission in plea documents. Karl had also taken out life insurance policiestotaling more than $350,000 a pieceon his two young granddaughters, listing himself as the sole beneficiary of the policies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Cassie Rood, Levis ex-wife and mother of his children, said she was devastated by the loss. When Christinas father, Art Alexander, offered Karl a job at his sheet metal business in in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California, Karl took him up on the offer and moved the family to Murphys, California in the late 1980s. Canning asks the convicted killer sitting across from her. Christina and Karl Karlsens daughter Erin told ABC News' "20/20" in a 2013 exclusive interview that she was always suspicious of her father. Murder for financial gain is considered a "special circumstance" under California law that would qualify Karlsen for the death penalty if he is convicted. Then in 2001, Levi was killed by a pickup truck, with the deadly incident originally presumed to be an accident. It sounded like a tragic accident, she said. Some investigators with the California Department of Forestry kept files on Karlsen, hoping the case would someday be re-opened. He had crushed his son beneath a pickup truck, leaving him to die under its weight, and then collected $707,000 from Levis life insurance, according to court filings by Seneca County, N.Y., prosecutors. Yet, he was still trying to change his ways in the hopes of a better future with his daughters. 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