By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Morton woman’s conviction for insurance fraud has been reversed by the Washington State Supreme Court.
In its seven to two decision filed today, the high court told Lewis County Superior Court to dismiss Jennifer M. Mau’s felony conviction.
Mau, then 30, and her boyfriend David Eden, then 47, were found guilty in September 2010 of making a false insurance claim involving a U-Haul trailer they said leaked and damaged their belongings during a move from Centralia to Morton three years earlier.
Her attorney argued her list of losses was not made under a contract of insurance. Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud agreed, writing prosecutors failed to prove the existence of any contract of insurance.
Mau, a student of criminal justice, operates a private organization which looks for missing children, called Search and Seek. Her most high profile case was in the summer of 2010 when volunteers she led eventually found the body of missing 16-year-old Morton boy Austin King with the help of a Portland psychic.
She shared a prepared statement today on the outcome of her case.
“The Supreme Court has reaffirmed what I have said all along; I have always maintained my innocence,.” Mau wrote. “Now I can put this behind me and live my life.”
Mau had purchased optional cargo insurance, but was then told it did not cover water damage and Republic Western Insurance – a subsidiary of U-Haul – opened a general liability claim on her behalf, according to the 16-page filing made today.
The claims administrator found her list totaling approximately $16,000 suspicious and the claim was denied.
Mau testified at trial it was her understanding it was a preliminary list of items that potentially could have been damaged.
Justices Steven C. Gonzalez and Debra L. Stephens dissented.
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Read the decision here [1]