LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge appointed the son of Tito Jackson to serve as temporary guardian of Michael Jackson’s children in the absence of the family matriarch and in the midst a feud over the pop superstar’s estate on Wednesday.
Since Katherine Jackson is in Arizona and hadn’t spoken with them in several days.Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff temporarily suspended her as the children’s guardian and he appointed Tito Joe “TJ” Jackson to serve as temporary guardian with the ability to control the hilltop home where the children live and to take on other supervision duties.
Beckloff said there was no evidence that Katherine Jackson had done anything wrong but instead it appeared she was being prevented from fulfilling her role as guardian through the “intentional acts of third parties.” He didn’t elaborate.
He also said the children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — cannot be taken outside California without court approval.
The developments came after days of turmoil among the Jackson family.
A relative reported Katherine Jackson missing before she was located safely with other family members in Arizona.
TJ Jackson filed his petition under seal but appeared in court and was appointed temporary guardian after describing a “strange” conversation he had with Katherine Jackson on Tuesday evening.
“I’ve never heard my grandmother talk like that,” he said reluctantly. “In every way. The sound in her voice. The pauses.”
He said some of her speech sounded slurred and she used words that made him wonder if she was speaking in code.
Margaret Lodise, said she also spoke with the children and the two oldest, Prince and Paris, supported the appointment of a temporary guardian.
Lodise said she did not ask the youngest son, 10-year-old Blanket, for his views.
