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B.B. King’s Daughters Allege He Was Poisoned, Lawyer Says Claims Are Ridiculous

B.B. King
Two of B.B. King's daughters claimed the late blues legend was poisoned by two of his closest aides -- get the details here.

Two of B.B. King‘s daughters have claimed that the late blues legend was poisoned by his closest aides in the days before he passed away at the age of 89 on May 14, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, May 25.

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The daughters, Karen Williams and Patty King, alleged in documents provided to Us via their lawyer Larissa Drohobyczer that the beloved singer was killed by those closest to him. The daughters — two of King’s 11 surviving and adoptive children — called out King’s business manager LaVerne Toney and his personal assistant Myron Johnson as the suspects who allegedly poisoned their father.

Toney is the executor of King’s estate, and has been previously accused of misappropriating funds from King’s estate.

“I witnessed foreign substances and/or medication that were administered locked and hidden by Ms. Toney, leading me to believe she was administering medications or poisons into Mr. King’s body due to the non-transparency of her administration of said foreign objects, poisons, or medications,” the affidavit from Williams and King reads. “Mr. Riley B. King was sequestered from all family members for a week prior to his death and the informant was the unlicensed individual who was administering foreign substances to Mr. King’s person.”

King passed away at the age of 89 peacefully in his sleep, according to his lawyer Brent Bryson. His attorney confirmed the news of King’s death and said that the “My Lucille” hitmaker was in the comfort of his own home at the time. Bryson told the Associated Press on Monday that the daughters’ allegations were “ridiculous.”

“I hope they have a factual basis that they can demonstrate for their defamatory and libelous allegations,” he retorted against Williams and King.

bb king family
B.B. King’s family members Willie King, Tanya Deckard, Patty King, Karen Williams, Barbara King Winfree, and Rita Washington stand outside of a funeral home after a private family viewing of the blues musician on May 21, 2015

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Bryson told the AP that this feud would have been the last thing the blues legend would have wanted before his death. “This is extremely disrespectful to B.B. King,” Bryson claimed. “He did not want invasive medical procedures. He made the decision to return home for hospice care instead of staying in a hospital. These unfounded allegations have caused Mr. King to undergo an autopsy, which is exactly what he didn’t want.”

In a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 26, Bryson said the allegations against Toney are “baseless and unfounded and are unsupported in reality.” “Unfortunately even musical icons die,” his statement, which also noted that King was monitored on a 24-hour basis by certified nursing assistants prior to his death, continued. “Ms. Toney did everything she could to carry out the wishes of Mr. King while he was alive, and continues to carry out Mr. King’s wishes after his death. I hope over these next few days we can focus on Mr. King’s musical gifts to the world and not fictional statements by those seeking attention at the expense of Mr. King.” 

Just this past weekend, a family-and-friends memorial was held in Las Vegas to commemorate King’s contributions to blues. The memorial was attended by Richie Sambora and Carlos Santana.

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Toney also attended the service on Saturday, but the AP noted that she simply watched from the back row of the congregation. She told the AP she was pleased with the “calm, peaceful and respectful” air of the memorial on Saturday.

According to the AP, the Las Vegas Police Department’s homicide detectives are investigating the claims.

Local Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg told the AP on Monday that an autopsy was conducted on Sunday. King’s body was already embalmed. He added that test results would take up to eight weeks.

King will be buried in Indianola on May 30.

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