When beloved radio host Casey Kasem died on June 15, 2014 lots of people across the country mourned his death. He was a disc jockey who many listened to on Sunday mornings as he announced the weekly top 40 national hits. His smooth, charismatic voice made listeners sit on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear which song would hit #1.
Kasem fought a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and during the last year of his life, he was confined to wheelchair, spoke very little, and required full-time medical care.
The last year wasn’t just trying medically—tension also ran high among his family members, when his wife of 30 years, Jean, and daughters from his first marriage, Kerri and Julie, fought for control of his medical care. The daughters felt his wife had neglected and abused their father during the last year of his life.
On May 7, Kerri was granted temporary conservatorship of her father by a California court, but Jean left town with Casey on May 10. A week later, Jean Kasem was served with legal papers stating that Kerri now had temporary conservatorship over her father’s healthcare and life.
When Kerri eventually saw her father, in early June, he looked so weak that she immediately had him admitted to the hospital, where the doctors found he had serious bedsores and a urinary tract infection. Two days later he developed sepsis, so the doctors recommended hydration and artificial nutrition be withheld so he would pass away with less suffering. Jean unsuccessfully petitioned the court to stop it from happening, but Kerri agreed to it, and Casey Kasem died a few days later, on June 15.
Since then, the family’s battles have continued. Kerri sought to press charges against Jean for elder abuse, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has decided not to do so, citing a lack of evidence.
Deputy District Attorney Belle M. Chen, explained that it appears that Jean Kasem made “continuous efforts to ensure that Mr. Kasem was medically supervised” during the last year of his life. To proceed with an elder abuse charge, there had to have been evidence of more than ordinary carelessness and inattention, but that doesn’t seem to apply to Jean’s actions. It’s possible that neglect played in a role in his death, but since he had long-standing medical conditions, there’s no way to know.
If you’re facing an elder abuse charge, it can be a scary time. Many people don’t know what to do or who to turn to. It’s important that you take legal steps to protect yourself—starting with contacting a reputable, successful criminal defense attorney: Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm. He will give you the advice you need to avoid incriminating yourself and will walk you through every step of the judicial process.
But first, before he can help and defend you aptly, he needs to know all the details of your situation. Schedule a confidential, complimentary initial consultation today by calling 714-760-4088 or emailing dchambers@clfca.com. Your reputation and freedom may be at stake—make sure you work with the best criminal defense lawyer in Southern California—Dan Chambers.
