How does EK benefit from the murder if there is no body? He still has to pay if Pat is only missing. And if she were declared dead then she probably had a will leaving everything to the kids. He wouldn't have to pay for 10 years, but would move to the top of the list of suspects. I guess that is why we can't begin to imagine why someone would do something so evil. We have a conscience and try to live and act accordingly. I hope and pray that our questions will be answered quickly.
Perhaps because sheer revenge was the motive? Or perhaps because this scheme sprang into being after visits to taverns and package stores, and thus the "logic" at some point became hazy? Or perhaps because....*
KS Probate Code for the Estates of Absentees:
59-2704. Absentee presumed dead; presumption of death involving a catastrophic event or disaster. (a) An absentee shall be presumed to be dead for the purposes of this act if:
(1)
The absentee shall remain unheard from by those persons most likely to hear from such absentee for a period of not less than five years; and
(2)
one or more persons who had a bona fide motive for locating the absentee have conducted a diligent search for the absentee in all places where such absentee's presence could reasonably be expected.
(b) If no such search has been made with reference to an absentee who has been unheard from for more than five years and for whose estate a trustee has been appointed in accordance with this act, the district court may on the court's own motion order the trustee to conduct such search under the direction of the court and pay the reasonable expenses thereof out of the estate.
(c) Absentees missing as a result of a catastrophic event or disaster shall be presumed dead under K.S.A. 59-2708, and amendments thereto.
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatute.do?number=23574
*I would assume that the five years would apply as well to payments from divorce settlements.
Five years, though, is half as much as a full ten, i.e.,
"In another development, the Hiawatha World reported details about the divorce settlement between Eugene and Pat Kimmi, regarding a battle over the Kimmi Lumber & Sawmill. The business reportedly was worth about $1.5 million, and
Eugene was to pay his ex-wife almost $250,000 in maintenance over 10 years unless death or remarriage occurred first".
http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2010/mar/16/kimmi-family-increases-reward/?local
I'm assuming that EK would ask for relief from payment judgements after five years, perhaps assuming that, with the passage of time, the heat might be off. How wrong an assumption that would be.