San Diego

A man who faked his death in 1985 was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison for life insurance fraud.

Gregory Myler, 37, now of San Bernardino, was also ordered to pay $10,000 restitution to the insurance companies that paid his wife $245,000 in life insurance benefits.

Myler pleaded guilty Nov. 16 to defrauding the companies, and his wife, Jeness Myler, 37, pleaded guilty to grand theft. She will be sentenced Feb. 24.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bob Sullivan said Jeness Myler also collected $54,000 in Social Security benefits after having her husband declared legally dead in November, 1985.

Jeness Myler told police her husband fell off a cliff at Sunset Cliffs into the ocean Sept. 16, 1985. A hunt by helicopters and boats failed to find any body.

A third woman, Janice Wiedmeier, 37, pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to filing a false declaration that Gregory Myler was dead. She will also be sentenced Feb. 24.

The scheme was uncovered when San Bernardino police found the body of Wiedmeier’s boyfriend on the Mylers’ property in September.

Sullivan said a murder charge is expected to be filed against Gregory Myler in San Bernardino when he is brought back there.

San Diego Municipal Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez said the scheme demonstrated criminal sophistication and premeditation.