Earlier this month, 89-year-old blues legend B.B. King passed away. While reports indicated that he died in his sleep due to a series of small strokes caused by diabetes, his daughters now allege that the singer-guitarist was murdered. Nevada homicide detectives are apparently investigating the claims.
Daughters Karen Williams and Patty King contend that the musician's business manager LaVerne Toney and her personal assistant Myron Johnson poisoned King. The Associated Press reports that daughters filed identical affidavits asserting, "I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances. I believe my father was murdered." They claim that Toney administered drops of an unknown liquid to King's tongue in the months leading up to his death.
While this is a shocking claim, it's not too surprising that the daughters are accusing Toney of foul play. Just a couple of weeks before King's death, the daughters reached out to the police with claims that Toney was guilty of elder abuse against their father.
In response to these murder claims, Toney said, "They've been making allegations all along. What's new?" Toney had power of attorney over King's affairs and is an executor of his estate.
An autopsy was performed on Sunday (May 24). The toxicology results won't be ready for as much as eight weeks. An attorney for King's estate, Brent Bryson, told the Associated Press that the investigation was "extremely disrespectful to B.B. King," and said, "I hope they have a factual basis that they can demonstrate for their defamatory and libellous allegations."
While only two of King's daughters have filed the claims, it's worth pointing out that their lawyer, Larissa Drohobyczer, also represents most of King's other nine children and heirs. The lawyer said that "the family is sticking together" to oust Toney.
There will be a memorial procession in King's honour on Wednesday (May 27) in Memphis. He will be buried on Saturday (May 30) in Indianola, MS.
Daughters Karen Williams and Patty King contend that the musician's business manager LaVerne Toney and her personal assistant Myron Johnson poisoned King. The Associated Press reports that daughters filed identical affidavits asserting, "I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances. I believe my father was murdered." They claim that Toney administered drops of an unknown liquid to King's tongue in the months leading up to his death.
While this is a shocking claim, it's not too surprising that the daughters are accusing Toney of foul play. Just a couple of weeks before King's death, the daughters reached out to the police with claims that Toney was guilty of elder abuse against their father.
In response to these murder claims, Toney said, "They've been making allegations all along. What's new?" Toney had power of attorney over King's affairs and is an executor of his estate.
An autopsy was performed on Sunday (May 24). The toxicology results won't be ready for as much as eight weeks. An attorney for King's estate, Brent Bryson, told the Associated Press that the investigation was "extremely disrespectful to B.B. King," and said, "I hope they have a factual basis that they can demonstrate for their defamatory and libellous allegations."
While only two of King's daughters have filed the claims, it's worth pointing out that their lawyer, Larissa Drohobyczer, also represents most of King's other nine children and heirs. The lawyer said that "the family is sticking together" to oust Toney.
There will be a memorial procession in King's honour on Wednesday (May 27) in Memphis. He will be buried on Saturday (May 30) in Indianola, MS.
