Daughters who saw mom killed awarded $6.2M

WILLOUGHBY — Two daughters who witnessed their mother being stabbed to death by their foster sister at their Willoughby Hills home have been awarded $6.2 million in damages.

Lake County Common Pleas Judge Eugene A. Lucci awarded an additional $3 million on Wednesday to all heirs who may benefit from Lisa Knoefel’s estate.

Lisa Knoefel, 41, was killed Nov. 16, 2012, by Sabrina Zunich.

The victim’s husband, Kevin Knoefel, convinced Zunich to murder his wife to get her life insurance money.

In November 2013, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the victim’s husband and Zunich.

Susan Richlak, administrator of Lisa Knoefel’s estate, sought more than $25,000 in damages plus recovery of all the life insurance and benefits paid to Kevin Knoefel as a result of his wife’s death.

According to Lucci’s ruling, $5 million of the damages was against Zunich for the two girls, with $1.2 million against Kevin Knoefel.

The $3 million for the estate was against both Zunich and Knoefel, who had a sexual relationship with his foster daughter.

Attorney Michael C. Lucas, who represented the victim’s daughters, said Lucci did a “tremendous job” with the civil case.

“There is no medical formula to quantify the loss of your mother — especially when you had to see it happen,” Lucas said.

Kevin Knoefel’s assets are in the process of being sold to satisfy some of the judgment.

In addition, the estate has filed a lawsuit in Florida to recover a home Kevin Knoefel bought there with the victim’s life insurance money.

“The assets themselves are not sufficient to satisfy the enormousness of the award,” Lucas said.

Kevin Knoefel, now 46, was convicted of conspiracy and complicity to murder after a jury trial. He is serving life in prison with parole eligibility in 42 years.

Zunich, now 22, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.