Philly father, son accused of killing dying relative for $100,000 in insurance

A Philadelphia father and son have been charged with killing a relative to collect on multiple insurance policies. 

Edward Kirby and his son, Eddie, conspired to buy 10 life insurance policies that didn’t require a medical exam in the name of their sickly brother and uncle — and then kill George Kirby with a lethal dose of methadone, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said Thursday.

“Eddie completed and submitted the policy applications and falsely portrayed himself as the decedent using his own address, phone number and email address,” Williams said.

Williams said the pair schemed to collect more than $100,000 by taking out the policies and naming themselves as beneficiaries. But when George Kirby didn’t pass away quickly, they grew impatient, Williams said.

In a recorded phone call between father and son, Williams recounted, “Eddie said, ‘I don’t care what you do, he’s your brother.  You do it. The quicker you do this, the quicker we can get the money.”

A funeral director also became suspicious when asked to provide a dozen copies of the death certificate, the district attorney said.

The Kirbys are in custody pending a preliminary hearing on homicide, insurance fraud and other charges. No defense lawyers are listed on their court records.

A grand jury report said the victim’s son overheard talk of a plot and went to police beforehand, but was told there was not enough evidence to investigate.