- The children of a deceased couple find themselves in a new chapter of their long legal battle
- Maurice and Darlene Williams sold a 40-foot dinosaur fossil at auction after it was discovered on their property in 1990
- They received $7.6 million for it and now their children are fighting over what’s left of the sale money and the mother’s estate
The children of a woman who made a whopping $7.6 million selling Sue the T-Rex found on their South Dakota estate in 1990 have now started fighting over what’s left of the sale money and her legacy.
The father, Maurice Williams, died in 2011 and the mother, Darlene Williams died in 2020. Although they shared four siblings, only three are involved in the legal dispute.
Records showed Darlene had two wills: one filed in 2017 listed her daughter Sandra Willimas Luther as responsible for the estate, and one from 2020 listed her as executor and sole heir.
Darlene’s other daughter Jacqueline Schwartz then questioned whether the most recent will was legal, as she said her mother was seriously ill when she signed the document.
Sue the T-Rex was discovered in 1990 by fossil hunters on Maurice and Darlene William’s property in South Dakota. They earned the rights to fossil and sold it for $7.6 million
Sandra William Luther was listed as executor and sole heir of her mother’s estate (left). Jacqueline Schwartz, Darlene’s other daughter, legally challenged her sister for the estate and kept money from the auction (right)
Darlene and Maurice Luther pictured together. Darlene had hoped that after her death, her children would find peace and become a family again after years of disagreement
The legal document also stated that Darlene wished that when she died, she had hoped that her children would find peace and become a family again after years of disagreement.
When fossil hunter Sue Henderson and her team found the enormous dinosaur skeleton on Maurice and Darlene’s property, a legal battle over ownership rights quickly ensued.
It took six people and seventeen days to completely excavate the large fossil from the Cheyenne River Reservation.
The couple eventually claimed rights to the discovery before putting Sue up for auction and The Field Museum in Chicago placed the highest bid.
According to the museum’s website, funds for the dinosaur were supported by other companies such as McDonald’s. the Walt Disney World Resort, and “private donors.”
The dinosaur Sue, named after her discoverer, was then transported to Chicago, where twelve museum employees spent more than 30,000 hours preparing the skeleton.
In August 2021, a judge appointed Jaqueline as special administrator of the estate Kelo News. She then continued in that role until February 2022.
She claimed that when her late mother signed her second will, she was extremely ill and due to Covid-19 restrictions there was no witness in the room with her.
Sue the dinosaur is the largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered, and at 90 percent also the most complete fossil
Darlene had two wills, one from 2017 and one from 2020. The first listed Sandra as executor of her estate, while the second listed her as executor and sole heir.
Court records showed that the $225,000 proceeds ultimately went to the couple’s son, Carson Williams.
Jacqueline also decided to fight the sale of their mother’s Spearfish home just two weeks before Darlene passed away.
Court records showed that $225,000 in proceeds ultimately went to the couple’s son, Carson Williams.
The most recent document, filed in early 2023, sought permission to pursue claims against both Sandra and Carson, and possibly against Dakota Title, the insurance and escrow closing service for the estate.
The new legal document claims there may have been misappropriation of funds and fraud.
DailyMail.com contacted Sandra, Jaqueline and Carson but did not receive a response. A trial date for the family’s legal feud has not yet been scheduled.
Sue the dinosaur is known as the largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered, and also the most complete fossil at 90 percent.
“The discovery of the fossil not only allowed spectators to see it in person, but also allowed scientists to conduct more important research into the evolutionary relationships, biology, growth and behavior of ‘species’ than ever before,” according to The Field Museum’s website.
Sue can be seen in her permanent home in the ‘Evolving Planet’ gallery near the Genius Hall of Dinosaurs.