Man Claiming to Be Prince’s Son Requests DNA Test to Prove It
Carlin Q. Williams is the first person to claim he’s the sole heir of Prince’s estate
Beatrice Verhoeven | May 10, 2016 @ 9:18 AM
Last Updated: May 10, 2016 @ 9:25 AM
A man has filed paperwork claiming he is Prince’s son and therefore the legal heir of the late singer’s estate, and wants to take a DNA test to prove it.
The documents filed Monday in Carver County claim that “The Petitioner Carlin Q. Williams is the biological child of the Decedent and the Decedent is his genetic parent. He further believes he is or may be the sole surviving legal heir of the Decedent.”
Williams also requested a DNA test to determine the genetic parentage.
Last week, a Carver County judge authorized the release and analysis of Prince’s blood in the event that paternity claims were to surface.
Williams’ mother, Marsha J. Henson, also filed documents Monday alleging, “Prince Rogers Nelson, ‘Mr. Nelson,’ is the father of my son Carlin Q. Williams.”
She claims that she met Prince in July of 1976 in a Kansas City hotel, where the two had unprotected sex and “conceived Prince’s son Carlin Q. Williams that day.” She also claims that she didn’t have sexual intercourse with anyone in the six weeks before sleeping with Prince, and didn’t have sex with anyone until her son was born on April 8, 1977.
In April, Prince’s sister Tyka filed legal papers indicating that the singer did not leave a will and made moves toward becoming executor of the music legend’s estate. But on May 2, a woman named Darcell Johnston also stepped forward claiming she is a beneficiary in Prince’s probate case, alleging she is the late musician’s long-lost half sister.Prince died on April 21 at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota. The autopsy was completed, but results regarding the cause of death are still pending.
The singer was reportedly in possession of painkillers at the time of his death. The singer’s body was found in the elevator of his home in Minnesota, days after he was reportedly treated for an overdose of the opioid painkiller Percocet.
The family said that details of a memorial service are “coming soon.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
Prince Death: Updates in the 7 Hours and 13 Days Since He Died (Photos)
It's been seven hours and 13 days since we lost the greatest musician of his generation, we still don't know how Prince died. But the fight over his legacy has already begun, starting with questions about who will control his goldmine of music. RIP, Prince. Nothing Compares 2 U.
1. On April 25, Prince's hometown newspaper, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, reported that the investigation into Prince's death was focused on his use of painkillers. A longtime attorney for two of Prince’s siblings told authorities that his clients told him over a decade ago that Prince had “substantial” drug problems, specifically with the opioid painkiller Percocet and cocaine.
2. Meanwhile, Prince's former lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, dismissed "foolish" reports that Prince had overdosed the week before his death.
3. On April 26, Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, reported that he did not have a will and asked to be named executor of his estate.
4. Also on April 26, members of Prince's former band, the Revolution, announced plans to temporarily reunite. "We have decided, after spending three or four days together now grieving over the loss of Prince, that we would like to come out and do some shows,” Wendy Melvoin said.
6. Also on April 27, the National Enquirer reported that Prince died of AIDS. Legal experts told TheWrap that libel laws do not permit his estate to sue the publication.
7. On April 28, police disclosed that they had been called to Prince's home, Paisley Park, 46 times in the five years before his death. The nature of most of the calls was not disclosed.
8. Also on April 28, a search warrant was issued for Paisley Park in the investigation into Prince's death.
9. On April 29, Minneapolis-St. Paul ABC affiliate KSTP-TV reported that Bremer Trust, which has been appointed temporary administrator of Prince's estate, drilled into his vault of unreleased music. Only Prince had the code to the vault.
10. On April 30, KSTP-TV reported that Prince had entered an outpatient treatment program seeking medical help for chronic hip pain and hoped to “move away from” medication he was using to treat the pain.
11. On May 1, the Associated Press quoted Prince's chef saying that Prince was plagued by sore throats and stomach pains before his death. (He also said Prince liked to eat roasted beets and minestrone soup but preferred smoothies and fresh juices to soothe his throat and stomach.)
12. The claims to Prince's estate have begun in earnest: A woman named Darcell Johnston stepped forward Sunday claiming she is a beneficiary in Prince’s probate case because she is the late musician’s long-lost half sister. Prince's attorneys also asked a judge to dismiss a claim from a man who says Prince verbally promised him the rights to all his music, and his vault. They said the man's claim was frivolous and that he is a pretender to the throne.
While the lawyers and authorities try to straighten these things out, why not enjoy some of Prince's stunning performances in the YouTube videos fans have posted since his death?
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We still don’t know how Prince died, but the fight over his estate has begun
It's been seven hours and 13 days since we lost the greatest musician of his generation, we still don't know how Prince died. But the fight over his legacy has already begun, starting with questions about who will control his goldmine of music. RIP, Prince. Nothing Compares 2 U.