B.B. King’s Daughters Claim Their Father was Murdered

Legendary bluesman, B.B. King passed away at the age of 89 on May 14, 2015 and, according to his website, his actual funeral will be taking place beginning May 27th when a funeral procession will be held in Memphis. His remains will then be flown to Indianola, Mississippi, the town he considered his home. There will be a public viewing on Friday, followed by a funeral service on Saturday, when he will be laid to rest.

Two of his daughters, Karen Williams and Patty King, have cast a shadow over these events accusing the blues legend’s business manager LaVerne Toney, and personal assistant, Myron Johnson, of poisoning their father. In court documents released to The Associated Press, King’s daughters stated, “I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances. I believe my father was murdered.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Laverne Toney was King’s manager for 39 years, held his power of attorney and is now the executor of his estate, estimated to be worth “tens of millions of dollars.”

Prior challenges to Toney’s position and accusations of neglect by King’s daughters, both in court and through social services, have all come to naught so far. An autopsy was performed on B.B. King on Sunday, despite the fact that the body was already embalmed. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said that should have no effect upon the results, which will be available in approximately 8 weeks. Las Vegas police Lt. Ray Steiber told the AP that no active homicide investigation has been opened. Brent Bryson, an attorney for B.B. King’s estate called the accusations “ridiculous” and said he hoped the daughters had some factual basis for making such defamatory statements.