TULSA - The family of Terence Crutcher was in court Friday morning. Judge Kurt Glassco decided to vacate special administration of Crutcher's estate from the mother of his children.
"We're very happy with the court today by vacating Ms. Johnson as the special administrator. We think that was the right decision," said Damario Solomon-Simmons, one of the attorneys representing Crutcher's parents.
The court had appointed Frenchel Johnson-Crutcher as a special administrator in control of Crutcher's estate one week ago. This could have given her authority to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
In court filings, Crutcher's parents,Reverend Joey and Leanna Crutcher argue that Johnson-Crutcher is not fit to serve as special administrator over the estate due to her criminal history.
Johnson was in jail when Crutcher was killed. She was charged for assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Crutcher's parents are asking for control of their son's property. They claim that Johnson was never legally married to her son.
"If Johnson is deemed to be Mr. Crutcher's wife, then she has the right, assuming that the court approves that, to hire an attorney she wants to represent here in the estate," said Dan Smolen, the attorney representing Johnson.
She claims recordings prove that Joey Crutcher referred to her as their daughter-in-law.
Johnson-Crutcher says her children's grandparents filed for guardianship without her knowledge while she was in jail. The court granted temporary guardianship to Crutcher's parents.
"I haven't even been able to be with my kids since he passed. I feel like they're telling my kids all these different stuff about me, and it's not right," said Johnson-Crutcher.
She claims she and Terence Crutcher were together for 16 years and have family photos.
"Nobody know how I feel. I loved my husband, and I always will," said Johnson-Crutcher, "His family know that."
Both parties are scheduled to be back in court on October 25 when the judge will decide whether Johnson was Crutcher's wife.
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