Can a Life Insurance Company Deny a Claim If the Policyholder Died Committing a Felony?
Yes—many life insurance policies contain exclusions that allow insurers to deny claims if the insured dies while committing a felony. But not all denials are justified. If the incident was out of character or influenced by external factors like coercion or drugging, the claim may still be valid. This is why challenging a denial is so important.
Life insurance is designed to provide families with financial stability after losing a loved one. In exchange for years of premium payments, beneficiaries expect the insurer to honor its promise. But insurers are in the business of minimizing payouts—and when possible, they will invoke policy exclusions to avoid paying. One common exclusion? Death during the commission of a felony. While this may seem straightforward, real-life scenarios often aren’t. In one recent case, a grieving widow was denied the payout she deserved—until an attorney uncovered the shocking truth behind her husband’s death.
The Unexpected Crime That Made No Sense
Ben was the last person you’d expect to see on the evening news. A quiet accountant, loving father, and church volunteer, he led a peaceful, structured life. No criminal history, no financial trouble, no red flags. But one day in September, surveillance footage captured something bizarre: Ben walked into a bank, calmly pulled a gun, and demanded money from a teller. He exited with cash bags in hand and began loading them into his car.
Moments later, police arrived with sirens blaring. Ben, still eerily calm, pointed his weapon at the officers. They shot and killed him on the spot. The footage left his community stunned—and his wife, Sarah, completely devastated and confused. Nothing about the event aligned with the man she had known.
The Predictable Claim Denial
Still reeling from her husband’s death, Sarah filed a claim with Ben’s life insurance company. Though unsure if it would succeed, she submitted the paperwork anyway. A few weeks later, the denial letter arrived. The insurer cited the felony exclusion clause in Ben’s policy. Because he died while committing armed robbery, they argued, they were not obligated to pay the $500,000 death benefit. For Sarah, it felt like insult added to injury.
But soon after receiving the denial, she got a call from the police. Ben’s autopsy revealed high levels of scopolamine, a powerful drug with a notorious reputation. Known colloquially as “Devil’s Breath,” scopolamine renders victims submissive and highly suggestible, often leaving them with no memory of their actions. The drug can be slipped into food or drink—or even blown into someone’s face—without detection.
The Truth Begins to Unravel
Sarah immediately contacted the life insurer to report the findings. The response? A flat-out refusal to reconsider the denial. The representative stated that Ben’s death was still categorized as a felony, and that the company was “not interested in further details.”
Fortunately, Sarah didn’t stop there. She sought help from a life insurance attorney who specialized in wrongful denials. Intrigued by the unusual circumstances, the lawyer began investigating the broader pattern of scopolamine-related crimes. Local law enforcement confirmed a series of similar incidents across three counties. Victims had been drugged and coerced into criminal behavior—including theft and bank fraud—by the same criminal group.
The attorney compiled extensive evidence, including:
Medical records from Ben’s autopsy
Police reports and local crime data
Sworn affidavits from friends, coworkers, and church members attesting to Ben’s character
Expert opinions on the effects of scopolamine
He submitted a formal appeal to the insurance company, urging them to reopen the case in light of this new evidence.
Justice Through Persistence
Within weeks, police arrested the group responsible for the wave of drug-fueled crimes. One suspect confessed to drugging Ben and directing him to rob the bank—promising a lighter sentence in exchange for cooperation. The confession was the final piece of the puzzle.
Faced with undeniable proof that Ben had been a victim—not a criminal—the insurer reversed its denial. Sarah received the full death benefit. Though the journey was harrowing, the outcome brought some measure of closure and financial relief.
Life Insurers Often Deny Claims—Even When They're Wrong
Ben’s story is extreme, but the insurance company’s actions are not. Life insurers frequently deny claims based on incomplete investigations, dubious interpretations of policy language, or an outright refusal to consider additional evidence. In many cases, grieving families give up—believing they have no chance to fight back.
But a denial letter isn’t the end of the road. With an experienced life insurance attorney, many wrongful denials can be reversed through appeal or legal action. Don’t let the insurance company decide what’s fair—get a legal team that will fight for your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can a life insurance policy deny a claim if the insured died during a felony?
A: Yes, many policies include a felony exclusion. But if the act wasn’t intentional or the insured was coerced (such as through drugging), the exclusion may not apply.
Q: What is scopolamine and how does it affect life insurance claims?
A: Scopolamine is a drug that makes people highly suggestible and unable to control their actions. If someone was drugged and forced to commit a crime, a life insurance company may be wrong to deny the claim under a felony exclusion.
Q: What should I do if my life insurance claim was denied?
A: Contact a life insurance attorney immediately. Many denials can be appealed and overturned, especially if new evidence is available or the denial was based on a flawed investigation.
Q: Will life insurance companies reconsider a claim if I present new evidence?
A: Not always—but they may reopen the claim if pressured by an attorney, particularly when compelling new facts suggest the denial was unjustified.
Q: Can character references help in a life insurance appeal?
A: Absolutely. Sworn statements about the insured’s history, behavior, and state of mind can help paint a complete picture and challenge assumptions made by the insurer.