Entitlement of Stepchild to Death Gratuity

The stepchild of a deceased member, Tech. Sgt. James Reynolds, requested reconsideration of a settlement denying her claim for the death gratuity due upon the death of her stepfather. Her mother was not eligible for the gratuity since she had been found guilty of the member's murder. The claimant was not entitled to the gratuity as a member of the decedent's household, as that phrase was used in the controlling statutes, since she had only shared the home with her stepfather for a limited time and since she had attempted to disrupt the family unit.