The Long Island man charged with faking his own drowning so he could cash in on his life insurance has filed for divorce — to keep his wife from collecting his severance checks.
Raymond Roth’s filing came a week after Evana Roth submitted her own divorce papers once she discovered e-mails he sent his son allegedly detailing the death scam.
Raymond Roth, 47, claims irreconcilable differences because “the bonds of matrimony are irretrievably broken,’’ said his lawyer, Brian Davis, though he admits it’s really about money.
“He is expecting checks coming from work for severance pay,’’ said Davis. “He doesn’t want her taking them and cashing them.’’
Davis says the couple will battle over their vanishing assets, including a $550,000 Massapequa home, his severance money and his 401(k) retirement account.
The house had been in Evana’s name only, coming into their 12-year marriage, but a prenuptial agreement protecting that property expired recently, opening the door for Raymond. He allegedly pressured her to sign over half the property to him in April.
Raymond Roth has already profited from that share, taking $80,000 gained in refinancing and blowing part of it on upgrades on the Florida time-share condo where he hid out while “dead,” said Evana, 45.