- Body of Miami hotel boss was found bound and gagged in 2009
- Former stripper ex-wife to stand trial in April charged with arranging the murder
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Trial: Former stripper Narcy Novack is accused of hiring hitmen to kill her husband and his mother
The family of Miami hotelier Ben Novack Jr has hired a genealogist in a bid to find a new heir to the $10m fortune currently in the hands of his former stripper widow who accused of arranging his murder.
Narcy Novack, 53, is alleged to have watched the two hitmen she hired beat her husband with barbells before ordering them to gouge out his eyes with a utility knife.
She and her brother, Cristobal Veliz, 55, are scheduled to stand trial in April charged with arranging the murders of both Novack and his elderly mother, Bernice.
In his will Novack Jr, left his entire estate, including a Batman collection worth $2million, to his wife.
But under state law she would lose all rights to her husband’s wealth if she were found guilty of killing him.
The estate would then become the property of Narcy Novack’s daughter from a previous marriage, May Abad, 36, and Abad’s two teenage sons.
Now family members have hired respected Daytona-based genealogist Harvey E Morse, in the hope of finding new heirs.
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ShareMorse, who has been an heir hunter for 49 years, has already identified three cousins on Ben Novack’s side who could be potential candidates.
He said: 'Our goal is to see that justice is served and to ensure that the funds from the estate do not go to anybody profiting directly or indirectly from the alleged murder.’
Couple: Nancy Novack pictured with her murdered husband Ben Novack Jr. She spoke out from jail this week to say there is no answer as to whether her husband is dead or alive
'There’s never been a case where the descendents [of a killer] have been prohibited from benefiting from the murder.'
Nancy Novack claims to have found her husband's body, bound and gagged, in their hotel room in Ryebrook, N.Y., in July 2009.
Three months earlier the bloodied body of Bernice Novak had been discovered at her Fort Lauderdale home.
A year later, Narcy Novack and her brother were arrested and charged with both murders.
Bernice Novak, who once accused her daughter-in-law of trying to poison her, was married to Ben Novack Sr., who built the world-famous Fontainebleau hotel on Miami Beach.
Lawyers representing her sister Maxine Fiel, estimate the estate is worth between $6 million and $10 million.
They also believe there to be a substantial amount of cash stashed in overseas bank accounts.
On Wednesday this week they filed a petition at Broward County probate court, requesting the court to determine the rightful heirs to the family fortune.
Legacy: Mr Novack's father Ben Novack Sr built the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach, a favourite of stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra
The sprawling Fontainebleau Hotel was a favourite of Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra and was featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
Novack Sr lost the Fontainebleau to bankruptcy but his son set up in business for himself following in the family his footsteps opening a successful Fort Lauderdale-based convention planning business, Convention Concepts Unlimited.
At its peak the company earned $50 million a year.
Nearly all the personal belongings of Novack and his mother have already been sold or auctioned off.
Among these were Novack's collection of Batman memorabilia, considered to be the second largest in the world, which included a Batmobile made from the original mold used for the vehicle in the TV series.
Bernice Novack, a former model, lived a life of grandeur in her Fort Lauderdale home filled with mementos, including a piano once used by Frank Sinatra.
Palm Beach attorney Mark Hanson, who filed the petition, claims that if they were to inherit the estate Nancy Novack's grandsons could conceivably use it to benefit their grandmother.
However that idea was dismissed as 'ludicrous' by the mother May Abad's attorney William Crawford, who pointed out that not only has Abad been feuding with her mother since childhood but she also believes she is guilty of killing her stepfather.
Passion: Novack's collection of Batman memorabilia was worth an estimated $2m and included a 'Batmobile' from the original TV series
Crawford said: 'If anything, as time goes on, her resolve grows stronger against her mother.'
Maxine Fiel, said that the last person her sister would have wanted to inherit her money and jewels was Narcy.
She said: 'Why should anybody in Narcy’s family get anything?
'I don’t give a damn about the money.'
She explained that she simply wants to prevent Narcy’s heirs from financially benefiting over her sister and nephew’s murders.
Authorities believe Narcy Novack stole jewelry, cash and other valuables from safe deposit boxes owned by her husband and mother-in-law.
A bank administrator testified that she tricked clerks into giving her access to the boxes by telling them her husband was still alive and that he would provide written authorization.
One of the boxes was believed to have contained a diamond necklace worth $100,000.
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