America’s favorite top-40 radio host, Casey Kasem has gone missing and the courts have ordered a court investigator to find him.
Kasem, 82, suffers from advanced Parkinson’s Disease can no longer speak and has an IV and feeding tube in him at all times. He has moved from various medical facilities chosen by his second wife, Jean Kasem.
Kasem’s three eldest children, Julie, Kerri and Mike Kasem have been at odds with Casey’s second wife over their father’s care as well has access to him. A previous case by Julie Kasem was dismissed after settlement was reached with Jean Kasem that she would keep his children informed of all medical decisions made. The daughter said Monday in court that the agreement had been breached.
In a court filing, Ms. Kerri Kasem’s attorneys wrote that Casey Kasem has been moved by his wife, without notifying his children. The complaint also accused Jean Kasem of elder abuse, due to isolating him from his family.
It seems that following a May 6th visit by his children at a Santa Monica hospital, he vanished.
Yesterday, daughter Kerri Kasem was appointed as Casey Kasem’s temporary caretaker on by Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy. In addition to a court private investigator, Judge Murphy appointed a doctor to review Casey Kasem’s medical care and also appointed a court attorney for Mr. Kasem.
The CMP Protective and Investigative Group has been involved in similar court appointed cases as the investigator of record. As an investigator you are a “finder of the facts” and in tense situations, such as this, it offers the courts clarity to make informed decisions on the rulings.
His second wife, Jean’s lawyer, claims to not know where Mr. Kasem is and only that he isn’t in the United States anymore.
If the CMP Group were handling this case the first few investigative steps would be:
- Interview Kasem’s family members and all caretakers staff.
- Review the hospital videos from Monday May 5th to determine a timeline when Mr. Kasem departed the hospital and how.
- Interview the Santa Monica hospital staff – working with the court appointed lawyers to issue subpoenas if needed.
- Get a Court ordered subpoena to get any travel records and immigration records to determine if he did leave the US.
His children think he may be on a Washington State Indian reservation. “Jean was talking to her niece in Washington on the phone,” says Julie Kasem, “saying, ‘I need an Indian reservation with a private airstrip and I want to bring Casey there.’ Her nephew overheard and immediately alerted Kerri (Kasem, Julie’s sister). We’re all sort of family, in a twisted way.”
If it was found that Jean moved Casey Kasem hastily and secretly to another medical facility, especially outside of the country, the judge may rule Ms. Kerri Kasem to be his sole and permanent caretaker.
Thomas Ruskin 