Diana Ross second choice to raise Michael Jackson's kids
A PLAN to bury Michael Jackson at his Neverland ranch has fizzled, leaving details about his funeral undecided as another mystery was solved: his newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.
The investigation into the singer's death deepened yesterday when the Drug Enforcement Administration was asked by the Los Angeles Police Department to step in, a law enforcement official said.
Meanwhile, claims have surfaced that Jackson might have taken a powerful sedative for insomnia in the days leading up to his death. Cherilyn Lee, 56, a nutritionist who was working for the singer, said she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan. Jackson told her he had been given it in the past by an unnamed doctor.
Doses of the powerful drug not much larger than the medically recommended amount can stop a person's breathing, leading to cardiac arrest. Jackson died after suffering cardiac arrest, his family said.
Ms Lee said: "I don't know what happened there. The only thing I can say is he was adamant about this drug."
Jackson's 2002 will, filed yesterday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his mother Katherine, 79, and his children as beneficiaries. The will estimates the value of his estate at more than $US500 million ($619m).
Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian and Ross, 65, an old friend of Michael Jackson, was named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross, the former lead singer of The Supremes, introduced the Jackson 5 on The Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and fostered their careers.
Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but ruled out Neverland. A funeral and burial in Los Angeles was more likely, a source said.
Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch, the source said, adding it was a complicated process and could not be done for a burial this week.
"The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service (will take place)," the source said. Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. They said the most important part of the will was Jackson's desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.
"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the pair said in a statement.
The will excludes father Joe Jackson from administering the estate.
The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2000 items from Neverland.
Paul Gordon Hoffman, a lawyer for the executors, told Superior Court judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients were the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper".
Mr Beckloff urged lawyers from both sides to reach a compromise. "I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.
A PLAN to bury Michael Jackson at his Neverland ranch has fizzled, leaving details about his funeral undecided as another mystery was solved: his newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.
The investigation into the singer's death deepened yesterday when the Drug Enforcement Administration was asked by the Los Angeles Police Department to step in, a law enforcement official said.
Meanwhile, claims have surfaced that Jackson might have taken a powerful sedative for insomnia in the days leading up to his death. Cherilyn Lee, 56, a nutritionist who was working for the singer, said she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan. Jackson told her he had been given it in the past by an unnamed doctor.
Doses of the powerful drug not much larger than the medically recommended amount can stop a person's breathing, leading to cardiac arrest. Jackson died after suffering cardiac arrest, his family said.
Ms Lee said: "I don't know what happened there. The only thing I can say is he was adamant about this drug."
Jackson's 2002 will, filed yesterday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his mother Katherine, 79, and his children as beneficiaries. The will estimates the value of his estate at more than $US500 million ($619m).
Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian and Ross, 65, an old friend of Michael Jackson, was named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross, the former lead singer of The Supremes, introduced the Jackson 5 on The Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and fostered their careers.
Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but ruled out Neverland. A funeral and burial in Los Angeles was more likely, a source said.
Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch, the source said, adding it was a complicated process and could not be done for a burial this week.
"The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service (will take place)," the source said. Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. They said the most important part of the will was Jackson's desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.
"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the pair said in a statement.
The will excludes father Joe Jackson from administering the estate.
The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2000 items from Neverland.
Paul Gordon Hoffman, a lawyer for the executors, told Superior Court judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients were the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper".
Mr Beckloff urged lawyers from both sides to reach a compromise. "I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.
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