We wrote about the Novack family last month. The story then was about the Florida hotelier's older son who inherited an estate worth millions. For anyone who kept thinking, "Novack, Novack, where have I heard that name before," the name just came up in the news again. This time, though, it was about the murder charges against the other Novack heir.

Ben Novack was his father's "official" child. After the older Novack married Ben's mother, Bernice, the oldest son all but disappeared from his father's radar. Ben Jr. was raised in luxury, and he sustained that lifestyle throughout his life.

Ben Novack was murdered in July 2009. He was beaten to death in a hotel room in New York. Bernice Novack had died a few months earlier, "from injuries sustained during a recent slip and fall," according to the obituary. Her jaw was broken; blood was smeared on the walls. The police said it was an accident.

Novack's widow, Nancy, was eventually arrested and charged with arranging both murders. Her brother was also charged. The motive? Money.

Novack Jr. had inherited a fortune and added to it in some unusual ways. He had one of the world's largest collections of Batman memorabilia.

The brother and sister await trial in New York. Both pleaded not guilty. They were news again this week when the prosecutor announced he had received orders from the Justice Department not to pursue the death penalty for the pair.

The prosecutor added that he will attempt to upgrade the charges against the accused. He would charge them with murder in aid of racketeering. With the death penalty off the table, convictions would mean mandatory life sentences.

Both Florida and New York have "slayer statutes" that prohibit people from profiting from their own wrongdoing. If Nancy Novack is convicted, she will not inherit her husband's fortune.

Ben Novack Jr. had no children. But his wife does. The fortune would go to the murderer's daughter.

Source: The Star, "Life in prison sought for woman accused of hotel heir killings," Jim Fitzgerald, Aug. 3, 2011