Family Trying To Stop Accused Killer From Getting Victim's Money

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ - The family of a Collingswood woman who was killed last year is trying to prevent her accused killer from inheriting the money in her retirement account, according to a federal lawsuit that was filed this week.

Mark Lyczak, 44, of Medford, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder in the deaths of 48-year-old Colleen Brownell and her 41-year-old step-sister Alysia McCloskey, as well as the stabbing of a third woman.

Lyczak and Brownell had been dating, but Brownell filed a restraining order against him after they broke up. Read more here: Stabbing Victim Had Restraining Order Against Suspect

Despite that restraining order, Lyczak remains listed as the 100 percent beneficiary to Brownell’s 401K savings plan through PHH Corporation, according to the lawsuit.

In the suit, the family is calling for Lyczak to be barred from receiving any money; PHH to be barred from giving any money from her retirement savings to Lyczak; and for Lyczak to be replaced as the sole beneficiary by the Estate of Colleen Brownell.

Lyczak remains in prison, and has not attempted to claim any of the money in the account, according to the lawsuit. A representative from PHH could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

The couple broke up after Lyczak became overbearing and Brownell became scared. In the lawsuit, the family claims Lyczak threatened to kill Brownell while swinging a hammer at her. The family also claims he attempted to strangle her multiple times, pushed and shoved her, held her against her will, threatened verbally and in public and used derogatory terms when referring to her.

All this resulted in Brownell filing for a restraining order on July 24, 2017. She moved in with McCloskey, and ultimately intended to move to Florida. However, authorities allege that on Dec. 30, 2017, Lyczak went to their home with a third woman, and he ultimately stabbed all three.

Brownell and McCloskey died as a result of their injuries, and police found Lyczak on top of the third woman, apparently stabbing her. He was subsequently arrested and has remained in jail since. Police who responded to the scene said they recognized Lyczak from a previous domestic violence incident.

A GoFundMe account that was launched to aid two sons McCloskey left behind raised just more than its $20,000 goal. Read more: Collingswood Stabbing Victim Left Behind 2 Sons

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner. Image via The Alisia McCloskey Family Fund GoFundMe page.