Attorneys representing King’s designated executor, LaVerne Toney, have filed documents in a Nevada court to refute allegations that King family members were kept away from the musician in his dying days. The documents also reject claims that King was mistreated medically and that his finances were siphoned off before he passed away on May 14 in Las Vegas.
“We’re asking the probate commissioner to approve (Toney) as executor and personal representative of the estate,” attorney Brent Bryson said on Monday.
“The spurious and unjustified allegations made against Ms. Toney by Patty King, Karen Williams and Larissa Drohobyczer will be dealt with at a later time,” he added.
Out of King’s 11 surviving children, Williams and Patty King have been the most vocal about their father’s care in his final days. Via their attorney, Drohobyczer, the pair accused Toney and King’s assistant Myron Johnson of poisoning him to speed up his death.
Toney and Johnson denied the allegations whilst Myron Johnson dismissed the claims as ridiculous, defamatory and libelous. Despite this, the allegations prompted an autopsy by the Clark County coroner. Results of toxicology tests are expected in several weeks. According to police, there is no active homicide investigation.
LaVerne Toney, who managed King’s road show business for 39 years and had power-of-attorney over his personal matters, is the executor named in his will. She declined on to comment on Monday. King’s daughter Riletta Mitchell was second in line, but she died last September.
Larissa Drohobyczer claims to represent at least five of King’s children who refer to themselves as a family board. On Monday, Drohobyczer revealed plans to file papers this week challenging Toney as executor, and didn’t want to comment before documents were filed.
Three daughters – Williams and Patty King, both of North Las Vegas, and Barbara King Winfree of Houston – declined to comment on Monday about the upcoming hearing. They have previously stated their desire to remove Toney from the situation.
“We are the King family,” Patty King said. “We are fighting for the King estate.”
Daughter Rita Washington, the fifth family board member, denied her reason to remove Toney is about money. She accused Toney of misleading family members about King’s finances and stopping them from visiting when King was dying.
“Dad died by himself,” Washington said. “If it was his wish not to let us see him in that condition, she still could have allowed us to visit him.”
In documents filed late on Friday, Toney’s attorney Brent Bryson provided an affidavit from one granddaughter who was with King the day before he died as well as worn testimonials from three doctors stating that King was properly looked after before he died in his sleep.
In documents filed late on Friday, Toney’s attorney Brent Bryson provided an affidavit from one granddaughter who was with King the day before he died, as well as sworn testimonials from three doctors stating that King was properly looked after before he died in his sleep.
King Was buried on May 30 at the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi.
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