Michael Jackson’s estate settles with man accused of stealing $1 million worth of property from late singer’s home after his death
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Michael Jackson’s estate has been settled with the man accused of stealing $1 million worth of property from the late singer’s home after his death in 2009.
Jeffré Phillips, who was once engaged to Michael’s sister La Toya Jackson, was previously accused of using the chaos surrounding the pop star’s death in 2009 to rob his deathbed pajamas and other valuables from his $25 million mansion.
TMZ has reported that Jackson’s estate has now reached a settlement with Phillips, although the terms of the agreement are confidential.
Jackson’s estate had sought a judge’s help to get back items from Jackson that Phillips owned after learning he had tried to sell them.
In legal documents filed in June 2022, Jackson’s estate alleged that Phillips attempted to sell items he allegedly stole after staying at the King of Pop’s Los Angeles mansion nine days after his death.
Michael Jackson’s estate has been settled with the man accused of stealing $1 million worth of property from the late singer’s home in 2009.
Theft: Film producer Jeffre Phillips, right, the former fiancée of La Toya Jackson, left, was accused of stealing personal items for nine days at his Carolwood mansion after his death; seen in 2014
While at the Carolwood House, Jackson’s attorneys allege Phillips stole the singer and his children’s iPhones, his driver’s license, prescription pills, clothing, handwritten notes and a briefcase containing personal and business letters.
“In an extremely abhorrent and inhumane act, Phillips even stole the pajamas Jackson wore in the final hours of his life,” the attorneys alleged.
“And Phillips stole a breathing tube that appears to have been used on Jackson by those trying to save Jackson’s life in the short and hectic period before his death.”
The charges against Phillips came the day before the 13th anniversary of Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009.
Jackson’s estate claims they received a tip in December 2021 that Phillips was attempting to auction off items belonging to the late singer.
In an attempt to vouch for the authenticity of the items, Phillips allegedly admitted to the auctioneer that the items had been taken in the days following Jackson’s death while he was at the mansion.
To verify the items, the auctioneer contacted the estate and informed them that he was carrying a pair of sunglasses, allegedly for Jackson, which Phillips claimed still had “makeup on his face.”
Jackson’s attorneys said they were able to recover some of the items Phillips allegedly took, but believed he was still in possession of home videos and music the singer wrote and recorded before his death.
King of Pop: Jackson pictured at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984
Morbid: Among the belongings allegedly stolen were the pajamas Jackson wore hours before his death and a breathing tube that may have been used on him before his death; seen in 2005
The estate ultimately asked the court to order Phillips to return any property he allegedly took from Jackson’s home.
In August, a judge issued a preliminary injunction banning Phillips from selling items he took from Jackson’s home in 2009.
The estate filed more legal documents in November to get back the property, which was estimated to be worth $1 million.
News of Phillips’ relationship with La Toya Jackson broke in the fall of 2009, months after Jackson died on June 25.
Phillips had proposed to La Toya in 2013, with many media outlets speculating that the two had actually married in December of that year, rumors that were suppressed by La Toya himself.
The two remained engaged until they suddenly broke things off in 2015. TMZ reported. They had remained good friends, but their current relationship is unknown.