(Photo by Brian To/FilmMagic)
John Amos passed away in August, but by the time his son Kelly Christopher announced his death, it had been over a month. Since then, the actor’s daughter, Shannon Amos, has launched an inquiry into his passing and hired a lawyer to lead her fight.
“The family deserves to know the full circumstances surrounding Mr. Amos care and the events that led to his passing,” Shannon Amos’ lawyer reportedly said in a statement. “We are committed to pursuing all available avenues to ensure that these questions are answered.”
But Kelly is saying there’s no need for war, and a private investigator has said there’s been no sign of “foul play” in the actor’s death. Here’s the he-said-she-said between the siblings and what else has been reported on the family conflict.
As previously reported, K.C. revealed the death on October 1, but his dad had died on August 21. Additionally, he said the ‘Good Times’ actor passed from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles. He was 84.
Shannon’s lawyer, James H. Davis III, confirmed she hired legal help to look into her daddy’s death, per PEOPLE. She outright accused her brother of elder abuse for seemingly the second time. Shannon reportedly wants more information about her dad’s admission to Centinela Hospital and his condition at the time. She claimed someone falsely impersonating her dropped John off at the hospital. Shannon claims she’s asked for his medical records in three formal requests but has gotten no response.
Furthermore, she wants the LAPD and Adult Protective Services to provide summaries of their investigations into her past allegations of abuse involving John Amos.
Meanwhile, Kelly Christopher isn’t hesitating in shutting down his sister’s claims with his own receipts! He provided an explanation to PEOPLE about decisions made leading up to John Amos’ death. He claimed that John requested to go to Centinela Hospital due to trust in its medical staff. Additionally, he said his dad asked him not to contact other family members, and K.C. said he “honored his request.”
“Let me be clear and transparent. There has been no physical, financial, emotional, or psychological elder abuse or neglect committed against my father by me, Gene Brummett, or Belinda Foster,” K.C. said. “This has been documented by an independent investigation by Homeland Security Services, Inc, Adult Protective Services, and other law enforcement agencies. The reality is that he passed of natural causes at the age of 84 years old. Stop making it more than what it is.”
Kelly also hired a defense investigator to conduct a “comprehensive two-year investigation” into financial discrepancies, including missing money and stolen material goods from his dad in Colorado, Memphis, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Ultimately, the investigator, Kevin Faler, said any and all charges against Kelly Christopher in New Jersey have been dismissed.
“The current allegations regarding foul play and elder abuse are frivolous,” Kevin Faler said. “John Amos was happy working and spending time with [K.C., Gene, and Belinda] writing, producing, and praying with them as a family and as his team. John passed from natural causes at the age of 84 years old. There was no foul play.”
Faler also cleared John Amos’ longtime manager, Belinda Foster, of any wrongdoing. “John told me Belinda was more of a daughter to him than his own biological daughter,” the investigator told PEOPLE.
Shannon Amos’ death comes over a year after she claimed her dad was a victim of elder abuse and financial exploitation and was hospitalized in critical condition. She made the allegations in a GoFundMe campaign, claiming John had called her from Memphis hospital. Shannon did not specify who was executing the alleged abuse but claimed one of the persons was a caregiver. Her GoFundMe campaign sought $500,000 for alleged legal expenses, care, and aftercare.
But, John Amos later denied his daughter’s abuse claims in a video message from the hospital bed. The actor cited confusion about the fundraiser. He also seemed to suggest that if anyone were to abuse him, it’d be Shannon. He said that they had issues leading up to his hospitalization, saying his daughter took advantage of him.
“She would be the primary suspect if you would,” John said. I dont know if thats the right term to use or not. But shes the one that I would attribute my elderly abuse to. Its definitely a case of elderly abuse.”
Additionally, his manager Belinda said his hospitalization was due to problems with his heart caused by fluid filling his lower body and abdomen. However, they both denied that his medical scare was life-threatening.
Shannon Amos has not publicly reacted to her brother’s response to her investigation.
