Autopsy set for dead Madoff associate in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - An autopsy is planned for a man accused of making more than $7 billion off the investment schemes of jailed financial manager Bernard Madoff.

Jeffry Picower (PICK'-ow-er) was found by his wife Sunday at the bottom of a pool at the couple's sprawling oceanside Palm Beach mansion. He died a short time later at a nearby hospital.

The 67-year-old was No. 371 on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans, with a net worth of $1 billion.

Police are investigating the death as a drowning, but haven't ruled anything out. Palm Beach County authorities planned an autopsy Monday.

Some victims of Madoff's vast Ponzi scheme say Picower was the fraud's biggest beneficiary. In a lawsuit to recover assets, trustee Irving Picard demands he return the allegedly bogus profits.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - An autopsy was planned for a man accused of making more than $7 billion off the investment schemes of jailed financial manager Bernard Madoff.

Jeffry Picower was found by his wife Sunday at the bottom of a pool at the couple's sprawling oceanside Palm Beach mansion. He died a short time later at a nearby hospital.

The 67-year-old was No. 371 on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans, with a net worth of $1 billion.

Palm Beach County authorities planned an autopsy Monday. Police are investigating the death as a drowning, but have not ruled anything out.

Some victims of Madoff's vast Ponzi scheme say Picower was the fraud's biggest beneficiary. In a lawsuit to recover assets, trustee Irving Picard demands he return the allegedly bogus profits.