Controversy surrounded the famous Jackson family yet again over the weekend after reports surfaced suggesting Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine had gone missing amid a bitter dispute over the late singer’s estate.
Authorities in Arizona said Sunday they believe that the Jackson family matriarch is in the state after relatives reported her missing Saturday night. However, they had yet to make contact with her as of Sunday evening.
A person close to the family who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that Jackson was with her daughter Rebbie in Arizona, and was resting on doctor’s orders.
Concern over Katherine Jackson’s whereabouts grew Saturday night, after a family member officially reported her missing to police. Then on Sunday, granddaughter Paris Jackson, Michael’s daughter, took to Twitter to plead for information about her grandmother.
"I haven't spoken with her in a week I want her home now," read a message on Paris Jackson’s Twitter account. She also tweeted a number for people to contact if they had information.
Katherine Jackson is legal guardian of Paris and her two brothers, Prince Michael and Blanket.
Even though Jermaine Jackson had tweeted Friday that his mother was resting in Arizona, Katherine Jackson’s lawyers also said they had not been in recent contact with their client and attempted to reach her on Sunday.
"First of all, let's hope that this is all just a big misunderstanding and a totally benign situation," said her attorney Perry Sanders Jr. "Assuming that she did actually leave on doctor's orders, no matter which doctor, it has certainly created an absolutely irregular situation whereby she has been out of contact with her grandchildren."
Another of Katherine’s attorneys, Sandy Ribera, said his client had been visited on July 14 by Dr. Allan Metzger, a physician who had once treated Michael. A family member requested that Metzger attend to Katherine at her home in Calabasas for an unknown ailment.
The elder Jackson was scheduled to leave the next day to attend her sons’ concerts in the Southwest U.S. However, she did not make the trip, and Ribera said it appears Metzger told her not to travel.
Metzger is not Katherine Jackson’s regular physician.
Metzger had been called as a witness in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death, as the defence tried to show that the singer had been trying to obtain the anesthetic propofol.
Metzger said he denied Jackson’s request.
In another tweet early Sunday, Paris Jackson said, "the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother... just saying."
The concern over Katherine Jackson’s whereabouts emerged as the Jackson family appears to be battling over Michael’s estate.
Days earlier, a letter signed by Janet, Randy, Tito, Rebbie and Jermaine Jackson surfaced, alleging that the superstar’s will was fake. The will leaves the bulk of Jackson’s fortune to his children, his mother and to charity.
The letter alleges that Katherine was being manipulated by executors John Branca and John McClain and that she was in poor health, alleging she suffered a mini stroke.
