Trial starts in slaying of cancer patient

SANTA ANA, Calif., June 22 (UPI) -- Orange County prosecutors say a former California woman and her son arranged the alleged murder of her cancer-stricken husband more than 10 years ago.

Trial began Monday in Santa Ana for Sandra Jessee, 58, and Thomas Ahlert, 39, both of suburban Phoenix, on charges they conspired to have Jack Jessee killed in 1998 so she could sell their house, collect the insurance and move to Arizona without having to spend money on the victim's cancer treatments.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said in a written statement the defendants were charged with the special circumstance of murder for financial gain; however, the death penalty was not being sought.

Jack Jessee, 56, was allegedly stabbed to death in the couple's Placentia home by Brett Schrauben, a friend of Ahlert, and another man for $50,000 that Mrs. Jessee allegedly paid off in installments, officials contend.

Prosecutors contend Sandra Jessee wanted to move to Arizona where her children lived; however, her husband wanted to remain in California where his adult children all lived. In addition, Sandra Jessee was allegedly afraid insurance would not cover the cancer treatments, which would eat up their retirement savings.

The case went cold until 2005 when the Jessees and Schrauben were linked to the slaying, officials allege. They were indicted in 2007 and Schrauben pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter last year.