[Reconsideration of Claim for Death Gratuity]

The parents of a deceased Navy service member requested reconsideration of their claim for payment of a death gratuity for the decedent's alleged murder by her husband. GAO had held that in the absence of evidence that the husband was connected to the decedent's death he was entitled to receive the death gratuity. In their request for reconsideration, the claimants contended that, based on new information, discovered by the Navy, the husband committed suicide and left a note which implicated him in the decedent's death. GAO held that the: (1) husband was not entitled to the payment; (2) decedent's mother should receive the death gratuity; and (3) Navy should consider the feasibility of recovering the payment previously made to the decedent's husband. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.