Husband's Dead But Stratford Woman Tries to Swipe $66K from Annuity: State Police

STRATFORD, CT - A 56-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly trying to illegally claim more than $66,000 that her late husband had left to his first wife and the son the man had with that woman, according to state police.

Valerie Clayton-Jamison, of Stratford, was arrested April 7 by Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. She was charged with:

• One count of Attempt to Commit Larceny in the First Degree
• One count of Forgery in the Second Degree

Clayton-Jamison allegedly "sought to claim the proceeds of an annuity that was owned by her late husband and turned over to the Unclaimed Property section of the State Treasurer’s Office as abandoned."

She is accused of submitting forged documents to the Treasurer’s Office claiming to be the beneficiary of the annuity when her late husband, Michael Jamison, had named his first wife as beneficiary and the son he had with the first wife as contingent beneficiary, according to state authorities.

"The annuity, worth $66,713.19, was turned over to the Unclaimed Property section after efforts were unsuccessful to locate the beneficiaries following Jamison’s death in 2008," said officials in a statement. "The Treasurer’s Office holds such unclaimed funds while efforts are made to locate the rightful owners."

Attempt to Commit Larceny in the First Degree, a felony, carries a potential prison sentence of one to 20 years, and a fine of up to $15,000; Forgery in the Second Degree, also a felony, carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000.

Clayton-Jamison was released on a non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on April 18.

The case is being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office.