Kasem Subject of ''48 Hours'' Investigation on Saturday

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Legendary radio talent Casey Kasem, who died in June, 2014 at the age of 82 from what was called Parkinson's disease, will become the subject of a "48 Hours" investigation on CBS this Saturday night, reports the New York Post. He left behind an estate valued up to $100 million after founding and hosting the internationally syndicated "American Top 40." Following his death, there's been a family feud, which now includes allegations of murder and elder abuse. Jeannie Kasem -- Kasem's second wife -- is battling Kasem's three children (Kerri, Julie and Michael) from his first marriage.

"I have never seen such hatred within a family," said "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant during the upcoming episode. "Both sides tell credible, powerful stories, both proclaim their love for Casey and both blame the other and accuse the other of killing Casey -- and both use the word 'murder.'"

According to the Post, Jeannie claims that Kasem's three grown children conspired in 2007 to convince Kasem into signing over power of attorney, giving them control over his medical decisions. Jeannie then countersued the children for forcing Casey to return to a hospital in Gig Harbor, WA, where he eventually died.

"It was always about the money," she tells Van Sant. They, in turn, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jeannie claiming elder abuse when she moved Casey from a rehab facility in Santa Monica, CA, to a friend's home in Washington state. "Jean killed my father," Kerri Kasem tells Van Sant. "The only thing she ever wanted from my dad is money."

Van Sant, the Post reports, will also break the news on Saturday's "48 Hours" that police in Gig Harbor have opened an investigation into Casey's death, after a private eye hired by Jeannie concluded he was a homicide victim.

Kasem's body now lies rests in an unmarked grave in Oslo, Norway.