Woman Is Guilty Over Collecting Insurance

A woman was convicted of fraud Friday for collecting thousands of dollars in life insurance on three slain lovers after allegedly using voodoo threats for years to keep witnesses silent.

Josephine Gray was charged with murder after the first two deaths in 1974 and 1990, but the charges were dropped after witnesses wouldn’t testify.

The murder charges were refiled in January because witnesses agreed to testify after learning that Gray would remain in jail pending the fraud trial.

The federal jury found Gray, 55, guilty of mail and wire fraud and other charges. She faces up to 40 years in prison when she is sentenced Dec. 2.

Citing a gag order that extends to the sentencing date, federal prosecutors and Gray’s defense attorneys wouldn’t comment on the verdict. Relatives of Gray’s former husbands also didn’t make statements, but shouted “Amen!” outside the courthouse.

Prosecutors said Gray created fear in her family by threatening them with voodoo curses and violence if they spoke to authorities.

According to court documents, searches of Gray’s home turned up voodoo materials and dolls resembling Gray’s relatives pierced with needles.

The federal fraud conviction bolsters the state murder case because they share the same evidence, Montgomery County prosecutor Douglas Gansler said.

“They had to prove the murders to show that there indeed was insurance fraud,” he said. No trial date has been set in the murders.

Gray’s first husband, Norman Stribbling, was shot to death in 1974, and she collected $16,000 from his life insurance policy.

Murder charges against Gray and her then-boyfriend, William Gray, were dropped after witnesses failed to testify. The two eventually married.

William Gray was found shot to death Nov. 9, 1990, shortly after an accidental death policy was issued in his name. Police charged Josephine Gray and her boyfriend, Clarence Goode, with murder, but the charges were again dropped because key witnesses did not testify. Gray received $50,000 in insurance payments for his death.

Goode was found shot to death in Baltimore in 1996, with Gray receiving $95,000 from his insurance.

Charges have never been filed in Goode’s death.