Western-Star.com

An upside-down mortgage, continued spending sprees and a sizeable life insurance policy — could those have contributed to the Veillette family's tragedy?

Michel Veillette's mistress, Sabba Siraj, told police Veillette spent money like it was growing on trees. Facts within court records tell of money trouble.

The Veillettes sold their former home in Trenton for $160,000 and bought the Brackenview Court home in April 2006 for $436,659. Veillette had three mortgages on the property totaling $442,568, which is $66,568 more than the Warren County auditor says it is now worth.

The $2,000 ring he bought his girlfriend sparked the fight that ultimately killed the entire Mason family.

"Yes, it was a crazy expense," he told police. "And no, I don't regret it."

He also told police his wife Nadya recently purchased a new expensive car and that he had nothing to do with the transaction. However, recently released documents show the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Sport Van, base price $27,700, is registered only to Michel. He also owned a 2005 GMC Yukon Denali XL with a sticker price of $51,935.

Veillette also told police they had cancelled the $524,000 life insurance policy on Nadya and $10,000 on the children, because they couldn't afford the $850 annual premium. However, a letter from Primerica Life Insurance Company dated Jan. 15 to Michel Veillette states the policy was still in effect.

Veillette had been a self-employed electrical engineer but recently worked for Frazier Enterprises in Crystal Lake, Ill., because the company offered health insurance coverage, police said. The company owed him $10,000 for expenses, according to the court records.

Veillette also told police that his wife had recently spent $10,000 to take their daughter Marguerite to California for a modeling competition.

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