Accused Killer Seeks Money from Victim's Estate

Police say he killed both of his parents and his brother with a sword. In a story that rocked the region last year, Joseph C. McAndrew Jr., 25, of Upper Merion reportedly killed his own family and now is awaiting trail for charges of first- and third-degree murder, according to court documents.

But, all those court cases, an attempt to plead insanity and counseling services for alleged mental illness get to be costly. According to The Times Herald, McAndrew now seeks to access his mother's $1 million estate to help pay the bills.

McAndrew was taken into custody, according to police reports, when he allegedly stabbed and killed his parents, 70-year-old Joseph C. McAndrew, 64-year-old Susan C. McAndrew, and his twin brother, James McAndrew, back on March 5, 2011. 

According to Main Line Media News, McAndrew was ordered to stand trial despite an attempt to plead insanity.

"When questioned by detectives about the killings, McAndrew allegedly referred to the deaths as 'extermination,' and identified the victims as 'person named brother,' 'person named mother' and 'person named father,'" said the report.

Filed court documents, presented on McAndrew's behalf Monday by "a court-appointed guardian," noted the request to access the funds. Papers were filed with the Montgomery County Orphans Court on Monday to reach funds of the estate of his mother, Susan C. McAndrew. The guardian reports the money is needed “for the purpose of retaining counsel and expert forensic psychiatrists so as to defend against the charges,” according to the papers.

According to The Reporter, Montgomery County prosecutors have been planning to seek the death penalty since February 2012. McAndrew will not stand trial until later in the 2013 year.

If he faces first-degree charges, the death penalty is on the table, while a third-degree charge would bring a sentence of 20 to 40 years.

According to media reports in August 2012, McAndrew was already given $16,000 in public funds to "hire a forensic psychologist to assist with defense preparation."