Jacksons' Epic Family Feud: Lawyer Claims Sibling Conspiracy Targets Michael's Kids, Mom

New details are emerging of a possible plot to remove Katherine Jackson from her home and her grandchildren

By Peter Gicas, Baker Machado Jul 24, 2012 4:40 PMTags
Prince Michael Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Blanket Jackson, Paris JacksonLester Cohen/WireImage

And you thought your family had problems.

Just hours after a physical altercation took place at the home of Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, a lawyer for the 82-year-old matriarch has provided E! News with her version of the incident and the possible reason behind it.

Fight Reported at Jackson House

"Yesterday afternoon certain Jackson family members ambushed Katherine Jackson's home after their vehicle tore security gates on the tails of the SUV containing Michael Jackson's children," says Katherine's attorney, Sandra Ribera.

"After exiting their vehicles, Jackson family members ran up to Michael's children as they yelled and began to aggressively grab at the cell phones in their hands. Out of concern for the well being of Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, the children were forced to temporarily leave their home and taken to a safe location. An altercation ensued shortly thereafter and law enforcement arrived at the scene."

Photos from the scene show Michael's siblings Janet and Jermaine present, while a source confirms to E! News that the third member involved was Randy Jackson. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirmed to E! News that its deputies were called to the Calabasas, Calif., enclave about 1:30 p.m. Monday to investigate a possible battery, but spokesman Steve Whitmore declined to name names.

The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.

Says Ribera: "Following the incident, it was learned that one of the family members who was part of the ambush admitted that a plan has been in place for the last three years to remove Katherine Jackson from her home and her beloved grandchildren.

"Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson have not heard from their grandmother since she left their home nine days ago to attend a series of her sons' concerts on their Unity Tour. She never made the shows. Despite efforts to interview Katherine Jackson at her current location in Arizona yesterday, Los Angeles County Sheriff's [Department] confirmed that they were denied access to Mrs. Jackson by security for one of her children."

Meanwhile, a Jackson family source tells E! News that Janet, Jermaine and Randy are leading the charge on filing a possible complaint with L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services as soon as this week.

"If Katherine doesn't surface and make contact with the kids, they will do what they got to do," says the source. "They are considering every option in the playbook."

Source says the family is split over whether to take this measure because some want to resolve this privately, adding there's an impression that Rebbie Jackson is "being part of the problem here," but would not elaborate. Rebbie is currently with Katherine in Arizona.

As for sibling LaToya Jackson, source says she "is not talking to anyone in the family" right now and is staying out of it.

Katherine Jackson's Dissapearance/Reappearance—What's at Stake?

There was no immediate comment from any of Michael's siblings; however, both Janet and Jermaine especially have been outspoken about family dynamics.

Last week, they banded together with fellow siblings to challenge the validity of Michael's will (which left everything to his children under the care of Katherine and completely excluded his brothers and sisters) in an attempt to oust the current executors of Michael's estate. Janet has also questioned whether 14-year-old Paris should be allowed to pursue an acting career at such a young age, while Jermaine has insisted that nothing is wrong and Katherine was merely spending time away from Michael's children to be with Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon on the road. The surviving Jackson 5 members even released a family photo of a rousing Uno game, taken in Arizona, featuring a smiling Katherine.

Meanwhile, soon after Monday's drama unfolded, Paris tweeted, "Gotta love fam."

—Reporting by Ken Baker

(Originally published July 24, 2012, at 7:46 a.m. PT)