B.B. King’s Death Being Investigated As Alleged Homicide: Daughters Claim He Was Poisoned

B.B. King died at the age of 89 on May 14. Now, his death is allegedly being investigated as a possible homicide because two of King’s daughters claim that the blues legend died as a result of being poisoned by his business manager, LaVerne Toney, and personal assistant, Myron Johnson, according to TV Guide.

Toney, who had worked for King for 39 years, had been granted power-of-attorney over King’s business affairs. King’s will also indicated that Toney was executor of the musician’s estate that could total tens of millions of dollars.

Johnson was at King’s bedside when he died in hospice care earlier this month in his Las Vegas home with no family member present. The legendary blues singer reportedly died in his sleep.

Patty King claims she saw Johnson administer drops of an unknown substance to her father’s tongue days before his death. She believes her father was poisoned to hasten his death.

Police in Las Vegas say King’s death is under investigation, and they are awaiting the results of an autopsy that was performed last weekend.

According to AZ Central, during King’s final days while in hospice, two of his daughters have been outspoken about their father’s care. Now, they have accused King’s two closest aides of poisoning him, but the attorney for King’s estate called the claims ridiculous, and police said there was no active homicide investigation.

According to the sisters’ lawyer, Larissa Drohobyczer, Karen Williams and Patty King gave separate affidavits, and both of them said the same thing claiming that their father was murdered. The sisters alleged that family members were prevented from visiting King while Toney and Johnson were by his bedside.

“I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances.”

Three different doctors determined that King was appropriately cared for. He had received 24-hour care and monitoring by medical professionals up until the time that he peacefully passed away in his sleep, according to attorney Brent Bryson.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg issued a statement Monday saying there was no immediate evidence supporting the murder allegations.

“An autopsy was performed Sunday. Test results will take up to eight weeks to obtain and shouldn’t be affected by the fact that King’s body had been embalmed.”

Toney and Johnson each declined to comment on the accusations.

“They’ve been making allegations all along. What’s new?”

Williams, Patty King, and another daughter, Rita Washington, vowed to keep fighting.

Attorney Bryson said the allegations were “extremely disrespectful” to King.

“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.”

What do you think about the murder allegation? Do you think Mr. King’s caregivers hastened his death?

[Image via TV Guide]