Michael Jackson’s mother scored temporary guardianship of her dead son’s children yesterday — and now wants control of the reputed hundreds of millions of dollars that go along with them.
Katherine Jackson’s legal maneuvering came as it was disclosed that Jacko’s doctor took up to a half hour to call for help.
JACKSON THRILLED ‘EM IN REHEARSAL TWO DAYS BEFORE DEATH
The superstar’s 79-year-old mom wasted no time filing a flurry of petitions in Los Angeles Superior Court to gain control of her son’s three kids and his estate only four days after his death.
Citing fear of potential looters — and apparently worried about keeping up her own lifestyle, since the court papers say some of her son’s moolah has been used “to pay expenses . . . [at his] parents’ home” — the matriarch urged a judge to appoint her “special administrator.”
She specifically mentioned the need to control Jacko’s billion-dollar music catalog.
There also is memorabilia at stake, and, “The chances of such valuable property disappearing or being wrongfully exploited are high,” the filing said.
In an earlier custody filing, Katherine Jackson sniped that two of her son’s kids “have no relationship with their biological mother,” Debbie Rowe.
And when it came to naming the mother of the third child, a boy nicknamed “Blanket,” her lawyers creepily checked off the box marked “None.”
Ongoing Michael Jackson Coverage
It’s unclear whether Rowe or the unidentified surrogate mother of Blanket will try to challenge the family. Rowe’s lawyer did not return calls.
But Jacko’s parents are clearly worried.
“Debbie sent her condolences and said she was not going to do anything about the kids . . . yet,” a source told People magazine.
But “Joe [Jacko’s dad] and Katherine think she’s going to come after them.”
Rowe bore two children — Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., a k a Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11 — apparently using donor sperm. She then sealed a secret financial deal with Jackson in which she would allow him to raise the children.
Jacko’s youngest child, Prince Michael II, a k a “Blanket,” is 7. He was born to a surrogate whose name has never been revealed.
Katherine Jackson said she needs control of the money so she can care for the kids — but there could be a roadblock: Jackson’s reputed will.
The singer’s former publicist Stuart Backerman said the King of Pop drew up a will at the end of 2002 with lawyer John Branca.
But “Michael never spoke about what he was leaving to who and how much,” Backerman said.
Branca did not return calls for comment.
Also yesterday, a lawyer for the singer’s live-in physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, admitted his client took as long as 30 minutes to call paramedics to Jacko’s rented LA mansion after the singer collapsed.
“He didn’t know where he was, didn’t know the physical address,” the lawyer, Matt Alford told The Associated Press. “There was no land line, no phone in Jackson’s room that would have allowed him to call.”
He said he didn’t know how long Murray performed CPR before rushing downstairs for help. Eventually, one of the singer’s security guards followed the doctor upstairs and called 911 as he resumed efforts at resuscitation.
Investigators spent three hours at the mansion gathering potential evidence, including medications, emerging with two large, red bags. Detectives are trying to identify “multiple doctors” who treated Jacko or prescribed pills, the LA Times reported.
The developments came as Jackson’s relatives said they won’t make funeral arrangements until the results of a second autopsy are known. Joe Jackson did, however, deny that his son would be buried at his beloved Neverland ranch.
Still, the funeral is sure to be a lavish affair — with Jackson’s casket paraded through the streets on a white, horse-drawn carriage, X17online said.
The circus-like atmosphere surrounding Jacko’s death continued even at the press conference about the singer’s funeral — with Joe Jackson bizarrely touting his new record company.
“We have a lot of good artists we’re pitching to come out,” he said.
Additional reporting by Tori Richards in LA