A Romulus man has been charged with second degree murder, accused of killing his son.

Seneca County Deputies say that 23 year old Levi Karlsen died in November of 2008, and at that time, it was believed he was the victim of a traffic accident.

Deputies had received a call from Cindy Karlsen, that her stepson was trapped underneath a vehicle he had been working on in a barn.

Authorities were told by the boy’s father, 52 year old Karl Karlsen that he and his wife left to attend a family event and that when they returned home, a vehicle his son was working on fell off a jack and pinned Levi Karlsen, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

At that time, there were no indications of foul play. But new information was developed in March of this year. Deputies learned that a substantial life insurance policy was taken out on Levi days before his death naming his father as the soul beneficiary. Deputies now believe that Karl Karlsen took action that resulted in a truck falling and pinning his son underneath.

The Sheriff’s Office teamed up with New York State Police Violent Crime Investigation Team and initiated an eight-month investigation that resulted in the arrest Friday night of Karl Karlsen on a charge of Murder in the Second Degree.   

Authorities  are also looking into a 1991 fire in California which claimed the life of Karlsen’s first wife, Christena.