Two Convicted in 2004 Murder of Insurance Agent in Philadelphia

A judge this week convicted two men of the murder of an insurance agent whose body was found in a North Philadelphia trash bin last year.

Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan, after a nonjury trial, convicted Michael Andrews and Alfonzo Morrison of first-degree murder along with robbery, conspiracy and abuse of a corpse in the April 12, 2004, strangulation of David Scafetta of Audubon.

The two are to be sentenced Jan. 5 and face life prison terms without the possibility of parole on the murder conviction.

Authorities said the 55-year-old victim, known to carry thousands of dollars because many of his North Philadelphia customers paid insurance premiums in cash, was lured into a house by someone who pretended that he wanted to do business.

After he was killed, prosecutors said, the defendants left the body in a back room while they went on a spending spree with the stolen money, later dumping the body in a trash bin near their home.

Andrews’ younger brother, Kareem Curtis Andrews, 21, pleaded guilty last week to third-degree murder, conspiracy and robbery and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in state prison.

Morrison’s attorney, David Rudenstein, said he anticipated an appeal.

“Most clients facing a sentence of life in prison at the age of 23 would want to appeal,” he said. He said possible issues included the court’s refusal to separate the trials of the two men and the admission of statements that the defense had sought to exclude.

“It’s a very sad situation,” Rudenstein said. “One man’s dead and one man’s going to prison for the rest of his life.”

Michael Andrews’ attorney, Bernard Siegle, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Topics Agencies Numbers