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 miniseries, ‘Love, Lies and Murder.”