Barbara Kogan: New York ‘Black Widow’ admits spending all of husband’s $4m life insurance

Barbara Kogan was jailed for hiring a gunman to kill her husband over the life insurance payout

Barbara Kogan, seen here in local TV coverage of her sentencing in 2010 (Screenshot/WNBC)

New York woman Barbara Kogan, dubbed the “Black Widow” over a high profile court case in which she was convicted of ordering her husband’s killing, has revealed during a parole hearing that she had spent every penny of the $4.3m she received in life insurance money before her arrest in 2008.

Kogan was released from prison on parole last month after serving 12 years for paying a gunman to kill her estranged husband, George Kogan, in Manhattan in October 1990.

Kogan, 77, was dubbed the Black Widow for attending her trial wearing luxury dark clothing, and for getting her hair done while her husband died at a New York hospital.

Kogan now wants to work as an anti-violence counselor and plans to enrol at Lehman College in the Bronx, according to transcripts of her Parole Board hearing reported by the Daily Mail.

When asked if she received the money, she said: “Yes I did. Now, I just want to add what [sic] has nothing to do with the fact of my guilt. I am guilty. At the same time, I was advised by his [inaudible] to call [redacted] and ask him to give me copies of the policies because I wanted to know – because we were getting ready to settle for divorce and we were going to use the cash value to settle money for our divorce…. Unfortunately, a week later or so…he was killed.”  

The commissioner expressed surprise when she called the killing “unfortunate” and she explained: “Actually when he was murdered, I was so astounded. I didn't even think it was me. I really didn't”.

She said that of the $4.3m paid out in life insurance, $2.8m went to her husband’s estate – which she fought for.

“That left for me about maybe $1.5m and I put aside for my children, so $1.3m,” she said.

When asked whether she gave the money back after being found guilty of ordering the killing, she said: “I didn't because we used it up.”

Kogan admitted she used to be very angry and bitter woman, but said it came from the fact her husband left her for a younger woman who “tried to take everything away from me”.

The board reportedly concluded the hearing by saying they would take into consideration the “strength and endurance” she had shown to “to continue on after trauma”.

George was an antique dealer. He was shot thrice by a hitman on the sidewalk near the East 96th Street apartment of his then-girlfriend Mary-Louise Hawkins. His last wish was to see Hawkins as he lay dying in the street.

Last month, Hawkins called Barbara Kogan an “animal”, expressing disgust over her release.

“Barbara is extremely good at manipulating people, even parole officers,” Ms Hawkins told the New York Post. “I’m disgusted, I really am.”