July 13, 2009 10:05 AM

UK Tabloids: LaToya Says Jackson Murdered

(CBS/AP)  Two British Sunday newspapers said LaToya Jackson believes her brother Michael Jackson was murdered by a group of conspirators trying to get hold of his fortune.

LaToya Jackson said she knows who is responsible for her brother's death and is determined to see them brought to justice, the News of the World reported.

According to the published interviews with The News of the World and The Mail on Sunday, she did not name any of the people she believes were involved and did not offer any evidence to support her claim that foul play was involved in the singer's sudden death on June 25.

"I feel it was all about money," she was quoted as saying by the News of the World. "Michael was worth well over a billion in music publishing assets and somebody killed him for that. He was worth more dead than alive."

Complete coverage of Jackson's life and death

She reportedly said the conspirators used powerful prescription drugs to keep Michael Jackson submissive and under control and also kept him away from his family.

Jack Ford, anchor of the In Session Channel's "Courtside," said on "The Early Show" Monday it's possible someone could face charges of murder or manslaughter if Jackson died of an overdose.

"You can make an argument," Ford told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith. " ... Manslaughter is what you're probably looking at there. You didn't intend to kill him, but you engage in conduct that is so reckless there's a real risk there of somebody dying."

Ford said prosecutors are growing more conscious of these kinds of situations, adding that in the case of Jackson, it would have to be a "significant showing that someone (was) loading him up."

"If I'm a prosecutor and I'm hearing these stories," he said, "I'm going to take a look at it."

LaToya Jackson also claimed, the newspapers reported, that roughly $2 million (1.23 million pounds) worth of cash and jewelry was taken from Michael Jackson's rented mansion and has not been accounted for.

LaToya Jackson also was quoted as saying her brother did not want to perform the 50 London shows he had agreed to, but was pressured into that agreement.

The shows, to mark Michael Jackson's return to concert performing, had been scheduled to begin Monday at London's 02 Arena.

Officials are waiting for the return of toxicology reports before determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death.

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by sufe70 July 14, 2009 10:42 PM EDT
Latoya, Lets look at what we know for fact. MJ died and hours later Janet was at the home with a moving man and took several items from the home.Now your selling stories to the media. I can't wait to see what the brothers do soon to keep in the limelight. Soul suckers.
Those poor children have not got a chance.
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by VaArmymom July 13, 2009 4:58 PM EDT
I'm sick and tired of hearing about him. He was not God, he didn't walk on water. He liked little boys, a (jury has been boughtbefore). He was a freak and just because he sang and danced, didn't make him "The King". If he was not known for his singing, everyone wouldn't care about him. Just because has was famous, doesn't make him likelyable. The world is better without him. I don't care where his kids end up living. I don't care where he is buried. His "fans" need help. My son served in Iraq, like other soldiers they are heros, they are more important. MJ killed himself, he was old enough to know what drugs do to a body. He brought it all on himself!! CBS along with other news shows need to move on to important subjects. Again,He was a druggie, liked little boys, he was strange and needed to be in a mental hospital many years ago.
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by mtcolquitt July 13, 2009 2:22 PM EDT
Michael is dead because he used too many drugs. The rest of the family sees $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
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by pw08-2009 July 13, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
With the father and Latoya saying essentially the same thing, it all looks a little fishy to me. Did someone hold Michael down and force him to take all of these drugs he was begging for? What a bunch of crap...Michael ended up taking full responsibility for his own actions, apparently.
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by djseavy July 13, 2009 11:08 AM EDT
It's amazing - all the time, energy and resources put into MJ's death. The same media that was trying to bury him a few years ago during the legal battles and actually preventing his "burial" now by continuing to print all the garbage that comes out of the Jackson family's mouths.
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by Sky017 July 13, 2009 10:54 AM EDT
"The News of The World" newspaper?!

Come on CBS... this is not becoming of you. That is not a good source.

British Tabloids... there you go... does this make it more authentic than American tabloids?! I guess that's why many late night infomercials have British people on them... to take advantage of the American propensity to trust an England accent.

Isn't this the same paper that often has pictures of aliens on it, or revealing shocking interviews of people who were abducted by aliens?

Sheesh! You really surprised me CBS... not good at all.
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by palmflood July 13, 2009 10:44 AM EDT
Let the police and the forensics do their work, LaToya. Your wishes won't alter facts. Your welling emotions won't be good theater at this point.
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by Questionews July 13, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
I guess delusional thoughts are hereditary.
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by beaumuff July 13, 2009 10:19 AM EDT
Since Jessie and Al showed up I would have thought they would have scraped up any left money.
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by spiritwalk July 13, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
Jessie moved quickly on to the Illinois cemetary scandel. Al is still down at the Apollo Theater trying to work the angle that somehow it was Jacksons home turf.

Both are savy and know that getting into the middle of the Jackson family is walking into a mine field. They just showed up for the dance and know not to stick around for the cleanup after.
by thusspokezara July 13, 2009 10:13 AM EDT
I would not be so quick to dismiss LaToya's theory. She is very very smart. You may surprised to know that she graduated from Vassar before going on to the University of Chicago where she now heads their diversity program.
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by spiritwalk July 13, 2009 10:34 AM EDT
Since she is in Chicago she can go over to Burr Oak Cemetary and see if she can find where her career was buried
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