The death of B.B. King has largely been marked by joyous tributes to one of the most influential guitarists of all time, but now things have taken a dark turn as two of his daughters have accused aides of poisoning the blues legend. The Associated Press acquired court documents filed last week.
"I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances," wrote Karen Williams and Patty King. "I believe my father was murdered."
Patty claims in her affidavit that she saw LaVerne Toney, King's longtime business manager-who had been in conflict with the family for months over guardianship of the performer's healthcare and personal business-administer drops of an unknown substance to her father, several months before his death. She suggests that the substance accelerated her father's death. Toney has been the executor of King's estate for some time...a role that now puts her in control of millions of dollars.
The state of Nevada, where King was residing when he died, will open a homicide investigation as part of policy. Results from the performer's autopsy will become available in six to eight weeks.
Brent Bryson, an attorney for the King estate called the allegations "extremely disrespectful."
"I hope they have a factual basis that they can demonstrate for their defamatory and libelous allegations," he said. Toney didn't comment on the allegations.
The guitarist's remains are scheduled to appear in Memphis tomorrow for a celebratory event on Beale Street, where he first cut his teeth as a performer. His body will then move to his hometown of Indianola, MS, where it will be laid to rest at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center.
We hope that the performer himself can get some peace...as it seems his estate will remain in turmoil for some time.
