Ohio Teens Convicted in Murder Plot to Collect Insurance Money

A Toledo, Ohio girl and her boyfriend, secretly living in her family’s house, were convicted of a plot to kill the girl’s mother in what the she said was an effort to collect the insurance money and inherit the home.

Catherine Varner and Devan Fields, both 17 of Toledo, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to conspiracy in the commission to commit the offense of murder.

Fields also pleaded guilty to attempt to commit murder in what prosecutors said was an attack on Varner’s 15-year-old brother, who was stabbed and choked March 9 in the basement of the home. Varner pleaded guilty to complicity in the commission of an attempt to commit murder.

Fields had been secretly living in Varner’s bedroom closet.

Varner and Fields face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when they are sentenced June 7.