Seneca, N.Y. — An indictment was filed charging Karl Karlsen with murder and insurance fraud in the 2008 death of his 23-year-old son, Levi.
“I’ll stick by my brother, but if he did it, he’s got what’s coming to him,” said Chris Karlsen, brother of Karl.
Thursday, Karlsen was scheduled to appear in Seneca Town Court, but the indictment meant the case will move to Seneca County Court.
“The first count of the indictment alleges that on November 20, 2008, Karl Karlsen, under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, recklessly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to Levi Karlsen and thereby caused the death of Levi by causing a motor vehicle to fall on him,” said Barry Porsch, Seneca County District Attorney.
The second count accuses Karlsen of knowingly committing insurance fraud with the intent to collect more than $50,000.
The father of Karlsen’s ex-wife Christina said Karlsen collected roughly $200,000 in insurance money after Christina died in a 1991 house fire at the couple’s home in California. Karl Karlsen later moved to the Seneca County town of Varick.
Friends of Levi Karlsen drove to court with signs in support of Levi Karlsen.
“He was one of my best friends,” said Holly Boyd. “He did not deserve to be taken from us.”
Karlsen is scheduled to appear in county court with his attorney Larry Kasperek on December 10th to be arraigned on the indictment.
13WHAM News spoke briefly with Kasperek who did not wish to comment before reviewing the indictment.
