B.B. King Death: Las Vegas Police Investigate Claims that Late Singer Was Poisoned
Las Vegas police have launched a criminal probe into allegations that blues legend B.B. King may have been poisoned by two of his closest aides in his final days.
The Associated Press reports the charges are being levied by King's daughters, Karen Williams and Patty King, who also allege that family members were kept from visiting him in his final days while business manager LaVerne Toney and personal assistant Myron Johnson "hastened their father's death."
The two women don't mince words in the legal documents outlining their belief that their father was "poisoned and administered foreign substances."
In his will, Toney is named as executor of King's estate, estimated to be valued at "tens of millions of dollars." Toney, who worked for the musician for almost 40 years, was also given power of attorney.
"They've been making allegations all along," Toney said.
According to the AP, Johnson was at B.B. King's bedside when he died May 14 in a Las Vegas hospice at age 89. None of the singer's family members were present.
In recent days, a public viewing of the blues legend's body was attended by more than 1,000 fans in Vegas, and days later, a weekend family-and-friends memorial attracted a crowd of nearly 400.
Meanwhile, an autopsy of King's body has already been completed, and results are expected to be completed over the next two months.
An affidavit signed by Patty King, who once lived with her father, states she regularly observed Johnson orally administer two drops of an unknown substance to King during evenings for several months leading up to his death. She adds Toney never told her what the substance was.
Representing King's estate, attorney Brent Bryson maintains that three doctors have determined the guitar-playing legend was appropriately cared for and received around-the-clock care and monitoring.
"This is extremely disrespectful to B.B. King," he said. "He did not want invasive medical procedures. He made the decision to return home for hospice care instead of staying in a hospital."
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