Socialite's Son Faces Criminal Charges

Brooke Astor's offspring allegedly defrauded New York's 'First Lady'
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 27, 2007 11:25 AM CST
Socialite's Son Faces Criminal Charges
Anthony Marshall and his wife Charlene exit St. Thomas Episcopal Church following the funeral services for his mother Brooke Astor, Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, in New York. The socialite and philanthropist died earlier this week at the age of 105. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)   (Associated Press)

The son of the late socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor has been indicted, along with a former family lawyer, the New York Times reports. The exact charges are unknown, but the case stems from years of accusations that Anthony Marshall took advantage of or defrauded his aging mother as her financial caretaker. Several transactions look fishy, and handwriting experts say some signatures on Astor’s will look forged.

One of the suspect signatures is on the amendment that gives Marshall outright control of his mother’s residuary estate. In the original will, he was to get only 7% per year. Marshall also took millions from his mother late in life. Astor’s care came under scrutiny last July, when Marshall’s own son accused him in court of neglecting and exploiting Astor, who died in August at 105. (More Brooke Astor stories.)

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