Mickey Rooney was a star of the screen for decades and appeared in hundreds of films during his career. However, this lifetime of success did not lead to late in life wealth as he eventually died with an estate worth less than $20,000. However, accusations have emerged that this small estate was worth killing for as Rooney’s estranged wife, other stepchildren, and children, have accused his stepson of poisoning Rooney and forging a new will which left him the entire estate. The accusations center around alleged literature that the stepson possessed which dealt with subjects such as poison and autopsies which they claim was evidence of a plan to kill the actor. Now, the family wants the body exhumed for forensic test and have gone to court seeking an order to make it happen. Up until now, some family members have been calling for an investigation but lacked the funds to pay for a private inquest into the cause of death. The executor of the estate will have 30 days to respond to the request before a hearing is held in March of 2016.
See Chris White, Mickey Rooney’s family at war as his last wife accuses his stepson of faking his will – then KILLING him (and in final indignity, star’s body will be exhumed), The Daily Mail, December 23, 2015.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
