COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
The strange case of an insurance scheme that cost a man his left hand back
in 2008 has taken another turn as federal agents located $270,000 worth of
missing money connected to the case.
According to US District Court records, agents
on Sept. 19 seized 2,700 $100 bills from 52-year-old Michael Weaver,
a mentally disabled man who lost his hand.
Despite locating the large cash hoard, government investigators say $30,000
remains missing.
Court documents say David Player, who confessed and pleaded guilty to mail fraud back on Sept. 13, gave
Weaver the cash and instructions to deposit
the money in a bank safe deposit box.
Investigators say Weaver tried to deposit the money, but bank tellers
refused to accept the funds.
This new information appears to contradict what Player told the court during
his plea hearing. In the hearing, Player said he had given Weaver the $300,000
several months ago.
But Weaver's court appointed council says Player approached Weaver with the
money in the hours after his hearing.
The case began back in May 2008, when
Player and Gerald B. Hardin brought Weaver into the emergency room at Tuomey
Medical Center with the severed hand.
According to their story, Hardin and Player told officials that the trio
were cutting tree branches with a pole saw when it slipped off and cut Weaver's
hand off. Attempts to reconnect the hand were unsuccessful.
In actuality, federal investigators say Hardin and Player tied Weaver's arm
to a tree branch and sawed arm off with the pole saw.
Player, acting as Weaver's power of attorney, filed an insurance claim on
Weaver and the insurance company settled the case for $375,000. In the weeks
that followed, Hartford sent out several more checks in connection to the case.
In all, Player received $671,125.
However, just before the incident, court documents allege Player obtained
several accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies on Weaver and
convinced Hardin to help him cut off Weaver's hand in order to obtain insurance
money.
Federal officials say Player used the money to buy a house for his son,
build a storage unit on his property, and buy a Dodge Dakota for Hardin.
Hardin has also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in this case.
Player and Hardin are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14.
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