Seneca County man who murdered son for money loses appeal

The Auburn Citizen reports that "The state's highest court has rejected an appeal from Karl Karlsen, a 56-year-old Seneca County man who admitted to killing his son so he could collect insurance money."

Karlsen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2013. At the time, Karlsen admitted to killing his 23-year-old son, Levi Karlsen, in 2008, when he intentionally caused a pick-up truck to fall off a jack and land on his son's chest.

During his plea, Karl Karlsen said he had obtained a $700,000 life insurance policy on his son's life roughly two weeks before the murder.... He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

In an appeal, attorney John Cirando argued that Karl Karlsen was improperly denied an attorney during police interrogations and that his statements to police were not voluntary. In addition, Cirando said his client's statements to his estranged wife should have been precluded under the spousal privilege law, that he did not waive his Miranda rights and that his guilty plea was not knowing or intelligent due to a lack of effective counsel.

On June 6, the state Court of Appeals denied the appeal, upholding the rulings of the lower courts.

Karlsen case: Seneca County murder conviction upheld on appeal

The People of the State of New York, respondent, v Karl Karlsen, Defendant-Appellant. Memorandum and Order:

An appeal from a judgment of the Seneca County Court, rendered December 16, 2013. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of murder in the second degree.

Karlsen’s conviction, for murdering his own son, was unanimously affirmed by the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

The defendant was represented on appeal by D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (John A. Cirando Of Counsel). The People were represented by Seneca County District Attorney Barry Porsch.