New challenges in Atatiana Jefferson settlement as other estate seeks fraud investigation

The estate of Marquis Jefferson is asking the Tarrant County DA to investigate alleged fraud in the probate case. The $11.25 million settlement has not been disbursed.

A new dispute is threatening to hold up an $11.25 million settlement between the City of Fort Worth and Atatiana Jefferson's estate.

The estate of Marquis Jefferson, who died just weeks after Atatiana, is now asking for a criminal investigation into alleged fraud in Atatiana's probate case.

At a press conference outside the Tarrant County Courthouse on Thursday, Marquis Jefferson's widow Noella Jefferson said it is not about the money, but about making sure her late husband's role in Atatiana Jefferson's life is not erased.

“It’s about justice. It’s about honor. It’s about fairness and right-doing,” Noella Jefferson said.

Marquis Jefferson died 28 days after Atatiana was killed in her mother's home by a Fort Worth police officer who was later convicted of manslaughter.

“It literally broke his heart,” Jefferson said about her late husband.

Marquis Jefferson's estate claims he was a father figure to Atatiana since birth, including paying child support and helping her through college. But there is now a dispute over whether Marquis Jefferson had any legal right to be considered Atatiana's father.

“So Mr. Jefferson, from day one, has been on the birth certificate. He found out in 2001 when he was seeking full custody that she was not his biological child,” said Bruce Carter, spokesperson for Marquis Jefferson’s estate.

Carter says the Jefferson family has been left out of settlement discussions. He's now asking the Tarrant County District Attorney to investigate what he calls “fraud upon the court” and points to court documents that refer to Atatiana as “Atataina Carr.”

“There is no Atatiana Carr. There never was an Atatiana Carr, but somehow someway someone thought it was ok to open a probate court in the name of Atatiana Carr,” Carter said.

But an attorney for Atatiana's biological father, Jerome Eschor, who lives in Nigeria, denies the allegations and says Marquis Jefferson was excluded by DNA as Atatiana's biological father.

In a statement, attorney Tanika Solomon wrote, in part, “This current attempt is disrespectful, unfounded and a strange attempt to garner money they are not entitled to under any legal theory…This news is a grotesque attempt to extort fame and fortune from the suffering of a grieving family…Noella and Marquis Jefferson were not left out of anything.”

Noella Jefferson, 75, says she's focused on what she believes is fair for her husband and for Atatiana.“It’s about standing up and doing the right thing all the time, not just when there’s a moment to maybe gain something from it," she said.

In a statement, the City of Fort Worth wrote, “The City settled with the Estate of Atatiana Jefferson. The probate court is responsible for determining heirship, and the Tarrant County Probate Court appointed an administrator for the Estate, with whom the City negotiated the settlement. Any changes to heirship determinations would be decided by the probate court and the settlement remains subject to approval by the probate court. No funds have been disbursed.”