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The family of a Fort Lauderdale woman who vanished in Spain over a year ago has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit in Miami-Dade County. The civil action names her estranged husband, David Knezevich, as well as his brother and additional unidentified parties. Knezevich faces allegations of kidnapping and murder, and the lawsuit further asserts claims of fraudulent transfers, interference with the family’s rights to the victim’s remains, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The legal action follows the federal government’s decision not to pursue the death penalty against Knezevich, who is awaiting trial in June. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence. Despite the absence of the victim’s body, prosecutors have constructed their case using circumstantial evidence, including security footage and GPS data.
The lawsuit also implicates Knezevich’s relatives, alleging they unlawfully received assets belonging to the victim and assisted in the destruction of evidence. Family attorney Adam Ingber stated that additional proceedings are being pursued in Serbia against Knezevich’s mother and cousin on similar grounds. The lawsuit includes allegations of aiding and abetting against non-attorney defendants for their purported involvement in concealing the crime. Certain claims against legal professionals and law firms remain under seal pending a probable cause hearing.
Estate Disputes and Legal Proceedings in Broward County
In a separate legal matter, Knezevich Henao’s family has filed multiple petitions in Broward County, including requests for estate administration, a legal determination of death, and invocation of Florida’s Slayer Statute. The statute prevents individuals responsible for a person’s death from inheriting their assets. The filings follow disputes over significant real estate holdings accumulated by the couple during their 13-year marriage. Prosecutors have disclosed that Knezevich previously reported a net worth of approximately $2.5 million after liquidating multiple properties.
Ongoing Federal Investigation and Legal Challenges
Federal authorities continue their investigation into the case, with forensic evidence playing a key role. Surveillance footage allegedly places Knezevich at the victim’s Madrid residence around the time of her disappearance, and GPS data prompted searches in northern Italy. However, no physical remains have been recovered.
In a related development, Knezevich’s brother was detained at Miami International Airport in early January. Federal agents seized his electronic devices under circumstances his legal counsel claims were pretextual. A federal judge denied a motion to halt further searches of the seized devices but imposed procedural safeguards to protect privileged attorney-client communications.
As the case progresses, both the civil and criminal proceedings highlight complex legal questions surrounding wrongful death claims, international jurisdiction, and evidentiary challenges in prosecutions where a victim’s body has not been recovered.
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