Black Widow murders
Encyclopedia
On April 18, 2008, Helen Golay (b.1931) of Santa Monica, California
and Olga Rutterschmidt (b.1933) of Hollywood, California were convicted of the murders of two homeless men. Paul Vados in 1999 and Kenneth McDavid in 2005.
According to reports, Golay and Rutterschmidt staged Vados and McDavid's deaths to appear as hit and run
incidents in order to collect on multimillion dollar life insurance policies
they had taken out on the men.
73 year old homeless man Paul Vados was found lying dead in an alley in Hollywood, California near 307 North La Brea Avenue on November 8, 1999. Vados appeared to be the victim of an apparent hit-and-run.
Beginning in 1997, Golay and Rutterschmidt began applying for life insurance policies on Vados, listing themselves as the beneficiaries. After Vados' death, Golay and Rutterschmidt received benefits from eight different life insurance policies that had been taken out on him.
Kenneth McDavid
According to a surveillance video, McDavid was hit by a silver 1999 Mercury Sable station wagon on June 21, 2005.
From November 2002 to March 2003, Golay and Rutterschmidt took out a total of thirteen policies on McDavid that totaled $3,700.000. On the various insurance applications, Golay and Rutterschmidt were listed as McDavid's "business partner", "cousin" or "fiance".
Before their arrest, Golay had received a total of $1,540,767.05 in insurance proceeds from McDavid's death, and Rutterschmidt a total of $674,571.89.
and promised him shelter. He testified that he had moved out after growing suspicious when Golay and Rutterschmidt asked him to sign documents and give his personal details to them. By then, Golay and Rutterschmidt had already filled out one life insurance policy application for him.
The case was described, by Deputy District Attorney Shellie Samuels who prosecuted it, as "like Arsenic and Old Lace
, but it doesn't have Cary Grant
"
The prosecution's case included secretly recorded conversations between Golay and Rutterschmidt when they were in jail. Ruttershmidt told Golay in one conversation "You did all these insurances extra. That's what raised the suspicion. You can't do that. Stupidity. You're going to go to jail, honey. They going to lock you up." Suspicion had in fact been raised when a detective happened to overhear a colleague discussing a case whose features closely resembled that of another one.
Both Golay and Rutterschmidt were convicted in Los Angeles, California
in April 2008, of conspiracy to murder Vados and McDavid, and of the first-degree murder of Vados. Golay was convicted of the first-degree murder of McDavid.
Convictions on the several counts spanned a week, because one juror had to go on a trip and be replaced by an alternate. The original jury reached a deadlock over the final two counts against Rutterschmidt, but after the alternate juror was introduced the trial judge ordered the jury to recommence deliberations. Both women were sentenced to consecutive life terms in California Federal prison, without possibility of parole.
on CNBC.
On September 10, 2009, the case was profiled on an episode of Deadly Women
entitled "Behind the Mask".
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
and Olga Rutterschmidt (b.1933) of Hollywood, California were convicted of the murders of two homeless men. Paul Vados in 1999 and Kenneth McDavid in 2005.
According to reports, Golay and Rutterschmidt staged Vados and McDavid's deaths to appear as hit and run
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
incidents in order to collect on multimillion dollar life insurance policies
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
they had taken out on the men.
The Murders
Paul Vados73 year old homeless man Paul Vados was found lying dead in an alley in Hollywood, California near 307 North La Brea Avenue on November 8, 1999. Vados appeared to be the victim of an apparent hit-and-run.
Beginning in 1997, Golay and Rutterschmidt began applying for life insurance policies on Vados, listing themselves as the beneficiaries. After Vados' death, Golay and Rutterschmidt received benefits from eight different life insurance policies that had been taken out on him.
Kenneth McDavid
According to a surveillance video, McDavid was hit by a silver 1999 Mercury Sable station wagon on June 21, 2005.
From November 2002 to March 2003, Golay and Rutterschmidt took out a total of thirteen policies on McDavid that totaled $3,700.000. On the various insurance applications, Golay and Rutterschmidt were listed as McDavid's "business partner", "cousin" or "fiance".
Before their arrest, Golay had received a total of $1,540,767.05 in insurance proceeds from McDavid's death, and Rutterschmidt a total of $674,571.89.
The Trial
A third homeless man, Jimmy Covington aged 48, testified at trial that he had been approached by Rutterschmidt, who had taken him to Burger KingBurger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
and promised him shelter. He testified that he had moved out after growing suspicious when Golay and Rutterschmidt asked him to sign documents and give his personal details to them. By then, Golay and Rutterschmidt had already filled out one life insurance policy application for him.
The case was described, by Deputy District Attorney Shellie Samuels who prosecuted it, as "like Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace (film)
Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 film directed by Frank Capra based on Joseph Kesselring's play of the same name. The script adaptation was by twins Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version...
, but it doesn't have Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
"
The prosecution's case included secretly recorded conversations between Golay and Rutterschmidt when they were in jail. Ruttershmidt told Golay in one conversation "You did all these insurances extra. That's what raised the suspicion. You can't do that. Stupidity. You're going to go to jail, honey. They going to lock you up." Suspicion had in fact been raised when a detective happened to overhear a colleague discussing a case whose features closely resembled that of another one.
Both Golay and Rutterschmidt were convicted in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in April 2008, of conspiracy to murder Vados and McDavid, and of the first-degree murder of Vados. Golay was convicted of the first-degree murder of McDavid.
Convictions on the several counts spanned a week, because one juror had to go on a trip and be replaced by an alternate. The original jury reached a deadlock over the final two counts against Rutterschmidt, but after the alternate juror was introduced the trial judge ordered the jury to recommence deliberations. Both women were sentenced to consecutive life terms in California Federal prison, without possibility of parole.
In Media
On February 10, 2010, "The Black Widow Murders" are featured on episode of American GreedAmerican Greed
-Season 2:Episode #7 The Martin Frankel CaseFinancier Martin Frankel, a con-man who vanished with $200 million dollars. A story of money laundering, prostitution, bizarre sex and drug abuse.Episode #8 When Greed and Giving Collide...
on CNBC.
On September 10, 2009, the case was profiled on an episode of Deadly Women
Deadly Women
Deadly Women is a television series first aired in 2005 on the Discovery Channel, focusing on female killers. It was originally a mini-series consisting of three episodes: "Obsession," "Greed" and "Revenge". After a 2 year hiatus, the show resumed production in 2008 and began airing on the...
entitled "Behind the Mask".