Washington police have reportedly opened an investigation into the 2014 death of “American Top 40” host Casey Kasem.
Speaking with NBC News, Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey said they began their review on October 31. Busey claimed the investigation started after receiving new information from Kasem’s family regarding his June 2014 death.
“We received information from the family that alleges the death to be wrongful and we are conducting an administrative review of that information. The case is being titled Death Investigation,” he told the outlet.
Kasem died at age 82 in Washington, where his wife, Jean Kasem, reportedly took him after discharging him from a California medical facility, where he was receiving 24-hour care.
The news of a wrongful death investigation comes as CBS News promotes an upcoming “48 hours” special concerning the ongoing feud between Casey’s children from his first marriage and his widow. During the November 24 broadcast, Jean accused her husband’s three children, Kerri, Julie, and Michael Kasem, of being motivated by his sizable estate—which is estimated to be worth between $80 to $100 million.
“They killed my husband,” Jean told “48 Hours” Peter Van Sant. “They killed their father.”
Casey’s three children made similar claims against Jean, and have accused her of letting Casey’s health deteriorate to the point of no return. Kerri told “48 hours” that she obtained a court order which allowed her to take her father to the hospital before his death.
Hospital records obtained by CBS described the radio host as having a stage-three ulcer in his back, septic shock, respiratory failure, and a slew of other medical issues.
In 2015, Kerri, Julie, and Michael filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their late father’s widow. Jean makes the same accusations in her countersuit.
“What she did to my dad was elder abuse,” Julie said during the soon-to-air special. “Straight and simple.”
[Featured image: Casey Kasem/AP Photo/Eric Jamison, File]
