Zoey Belcher, the orphaned daughter of Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher, will receive more than $1 million from the NFL.
Jovan Belcher shot Kasandra Perkins, his 22-year-old girlfriend and the mother of his child, before driving to Arrowhead stadium and turning the gun on himself.
The murder-suicide on Saturday morning means that the estate or guardian of his three-month-old daughter Zoey will receive the money under NFL’s collective-bargaining agreement.
Zoey Belcher stands to receive $108,000 annually over the next four years, $48,000 in the fifth year and then $52,000 each year until age 18.
She’ll continue to receive that amount until age 23 if she attends college.
The beneficiary of Jovan Belcher, who was in his fourth season, also will receive $600,000 in life insurance, plus $200,000 for each credited season.
There is also $100,000 in a retirement account that will go to his beneficiary or estate.
Players’ beneficiaries are kept confidential – the current collective bargaining agreement was ratified in August 2011.
Jovan Belcher’s mother Cheryl Shepherd, 54, has temporary custody of the couple’s baby and relatives have said she will take responsibility for the infant.
It is thought she will raise her granddaughter at the Long Island home where the 25-year-old grew up.
Cheryl Shepherd had been in Kansas City to help Jovan Belcher and Kasandra Perkins with their young daughter when the incident happened.
The couple had doted on their young daughter – they posted several photos on the internet showing Kasandra Perkins holding the infant when she was born as well as photos of the trio.
