Elvis Presley's widow accused of pulling late daughter Lisa Marie's life support for financial gain
Priscilla Presley, the ex-wife of singer Elvis Presley, has been accused of speeding up the death of their only daughter Lisa Marie to secure her place atop his vast financial empire.
Multiple outlets, including NBC News, reported that Priscilla's former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, sued her for fraud, breach of contract, and other civil misdeeds in Los Angeles County Superior Court. They're seeking at least $50 million (P2.8 billion), according to The New York Post.
"Elvis Presley is the 'King of Rock n' Roll,'" according to the lawsuit. "Defendant Priscilla Presley always wanted to be the 'Queen.' In fact, despite flaunting a public persona that only wanted to 'protect' and 'keep her family together,' Priscilla ultimately wanted one thing, power, no matter the cost."
Kruse, an auctioneer specializing in Elvis memorabilia, and Fialko, a collector of such items, claimed they had worked with Priscilla for years to maximize profits by leveraging her name.
After helping restore her financial stability in November 2023, they claimed that she “abruptly cut ties” with them and withheld compensation from the biopic Priscilla, which was released in September of that year.
On Jan. 12 of that year, Lisa Marie died at 54. Kruse and Fialko claimed that although Lisa Marie had been sick, Priscilla insisted that she and her daughter attend a Golden Globes event together on January 10, as she "clasped to the spotlight."
Autopsy showed that Lisa Marie died due to a small bowel obstruction, which led to cardiac arrest later on. The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office said there was no evidence of injury or foul play, and that the manner of death is "deemed natural."
But Kruse and Fialko claimed that "Priscilla rushed to West Hills Hospital and despite Lisa's clear directive to 'prolong her life,' Priscilla pulled the plug within hours of Lisa being admitted."
"Priscilla knew that Lisa's death neutralized the threat of Lisa's efforts to have Priscilla removed as the sole trustee of Lisa's irrevocable life insurance trust and Priscilla ultimately wanted to control the Promenade Trust and Graceland. At her house the week following (before Lisa's funeral), Priscilla exclaimed, 'I'm the queen, I'm in charge of Graceland.' Kruse and Fialko were heartbroken by the unsettling behavior."
Priscilla's lawyer, Marty Singer, dismissed their allegations.
"This is without a doubt, one of the most shameful, ridiculous, salacious and meritless lawsuits I have seen in my practice," Singer said. "These fabricated claims have absolutely no validity and we are confident this case will be dismissed."
Singer said Priscilla's granddaughter Riley Keough "stands behind her grandmother 100%."
Keough "is equally disgusted with this latest, vicious attempt by Kruse to attempt to ruin her grandmother's life," he added.
Last summer, Priscilla filed a lawsuit alleging she was a victim of financial abuse, claiming that Kruse and others exploited her and stole stole $1 million (P57.1 million), per the Post.
Priscilla and Elvis were married for six years before divorcing in 1973, four years before his death.
