Mastermind of 1985 California murder plot that inspired books, TV miniseries dies in prison

CORCORAN, Calif. – A man who masterminded the 1985 murder of his wife in a plot that inspired two books and a TV miniseries has died in a central California prison.

A spokesman for California State Prison, Corcoran said David Brown died of natural causes in a prison hospital Thursday. He was 61.

Anthony Bear said Brown was in a protective housing unit because of his notoriety for the killing of Linda Brown in the couple’s Orange County home.

He was accused of persuading two teenagers —one his daughter, the other his sister-in-law and secret lover — to kill his wife. The computer businessman went on to collect $835,000 from the victim’s insurance, including several policies started just months before her death.

The plot inspired the Lifetime TV miniseries, “Love, Lies and Murder.”