Secret ‘heiress’ says she has DNA proof she is daughter of famed artist who left behind $40m fortune

A California woman, Kelly Krechmer, 54, has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court claiming she is the secret daughter of renowned sculptor Fred Eversley and is entitled to part of his $40 million estate. Krechmer says her late mother, Patricia, told her for decades that Eversley was her father, and recent DNA results from 23andMe allegedly confirm it. She claims she emailed the results to his studio in August 2024, a month before his will was signed, but never received a reply and suspects his wife intercepted the message.

Eversley, a pioneering Black artist and former engineer, was known for his role in the Light and Space movement, with his sculptures displayed in major museums such as MoMA, Tate, and the Smithsonian. He died in March 2024 at age 83, leaving $27 million in personal assets and $12 million in real estate. His will left most of the estate to his wife of 12 years, Anna Maria Larsson Eversley, and $250,000 each to his siblings. Krechmer was not mentioned and says Eversley denied paternity when she confronted him decades ago.

The estate’s attorneys strongly deny her claim, calling it a baseless and opportunistic attempt to profit from his death. A hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2026, to determine whether Krechmer has a legal right to be recognized as Eversley’s daughter and claim a share of his fortune.

For more information see James Gordon “Secret ‘heiress’ says she has DNA proof she is daughter of famed artist who left behind $40m fortune,” The Daily Mail, August 9, 2025.

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.