Celebrities
New Michael Jackson Child Custody Issue: He May Not Be Biological Dad
Posted Jun 30, 2009, 12:32 pm CST
By Martha Neil
Complicating a potential legal battle over the custody of Michael Jackson's children, it appears possible that none of the three may be biologically his.
Additionally, Debbie Rowe, who is Jackson's ex-wife and the mother of two of the children, may not be biologically related to any of them either, reports the New York Daily News.
Citing reporting by the tabloid TMZ entertainment website, the newspaper says that multiple unidentified sources told TMZ that Rowe served as a surrogate mother to Jackson's two oldest children, apparently after being implanted with an embryo created from a donor egg fertilized outside the womb with donor sperm, if the TMZ account is correct. Another surrogate reportedly carried his youngest child to term without knowing that Jackson would be raising the baby as his own.
Meanwhile, a 2002 will has surfaced after the pop singer's sudden death last week of an apparent heart attack. It divides Jackson's estate between his mother, his three children and charity, reports the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.).
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "Michael Jackson’s Mom Gets Temporary Custody of His Children"
L.A. Now (Los Angeles Times): "Lawyers for Michael Jackson's parents evaluating 2002 will"
Washington Post: "Jackson parents seek custody, control of assets"
Updated at 7 p.m. to include link to L.A. Now post.