It is believed Aretha Franklin’s estate may have been ripped off to the value of $178,000 just weeks before her death last summer.
Oakland County Chief Prosecutor, Paul Walton said last week that there had been an investigation in progress which may have now come to a standstill due to the soul legend’s death on 16th August 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 – in which she died without a Will.
Paul Walton said: “In June 2018, she filed a complaint with the Bloomfield Township Police that one of her checks was missing and believed stolen. But unfortunately with her death, it is difficult to determine whether she actually passed it on to someone else who had the permission and authority to cash it.
“It may take more evidence or someone coming forward with more information about the transaction,” said Walton, who provided that assessment to township police on Thursday regarding his office’s review of the investigation for possible criminal charge.
He added: “I would presume there is a chance that someone in the estate may pursue this as well.”
There has been no comment or information from the Bloomfield Township Police Department about the case.
The theft came about after a check, that was made out for $178,000 was authorised at a bank in Oakland County. The police have spoken to the person who is believed to have had possession of the check and had made the transaction, said Paul Walton. He refuses to name the person or give any details about the person’s relationship with Franklin.
According to published reports, and those who knew her well such as the estate’s attorney, David Bennett, said she tended to not manage her financial affairs very well.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claimed that the Queen of Soul owed millions in unpaid tax. Bennett revealed in December last year that Franklin always paid her debts but lapsed when it came to immediately cashing checks.
David Bennett said: “She had a lot of checks lying around that she had never cashed, I had to have some of them reissued because they were so old. I don’t know why she didn’t cash them, but it seems that the IRS figures some of it as undeclared income and are going after it.”
Furthermore, it has been reported last month that the Bloomfield Township Police were also investigating a theft which had been reported from Franklin’s home too.
As Franklin died intestate with an estimated estate worth $80 million, the administering of the estate will be extremely complex and will take time in dealing with all the affairs – as her fortune continues to grow from unknown sales and royalties.
