REVEALED: Bombshell claims that James Brown AND his third wife Adrienne were MURDERED - as 13 people close to the Godfather of Soul demand criminal probe - including the doctor who signed death certificate
- Brown's official cause of death at 73 was a heart attack and fluid in the lungs
- Dr Marvin Crawford said: 'He changed too fast. What went wrong in that room?'
- Family, friends and business associates are pushing for a criminal investigation
- One pal was so concerned he took a vial of the singer's blood from an IV tube
- But Brown's daughter Yamma declined an autopsy when he died
- And sister Deanna would not confirm where her dad's remains are kept
- Friends of his third wife, Adrienne Brown, believe, she too, was murdered
- Wide ranging CNN report also hears rape and abuse allegations leveled at Brown by Jacque Hollander, who worked with the star in 1980s
Bombshell new claims from a raft of James Brown's friends, family and associates suggest that the Godfather of Soul and his third wife Adrienne were both murdered.
At least 13 people close to the legendary singer have demanded an autopsy on his body, refusing to believe his death at an Atlanta hospital aged 73 in 2006 was due to natural causes.
Brown's official cause of death was listed as a heart attack and fluid in the lungs. But even the doctor who signed his death certificate doubts that's what really happened to him.
Dr Marvin Crawford, who signed Brown's death certificate, told CNN: 'He changed too fast. He was a patient I would never have predicted would have coded. But he died that night, and I did raise that question: What went wrong in that room?'
Now his widow, children, friends and business associates are pushing for a criminal investigation into his death on Christmas Day 13 years ago.
American superstar James Brown, 'The Godfather of Soul,' poses for photographers with his wife Adrienne in 1991. Friends and family have said they were both murdered
Following his death one friend, Andre White, was so concerned of suspicious circumstances that he took a vial of the singer's blood from an IV tube.
But when Brown died, his daughter Yamma declined an autopsy. Her sister Deanna Brown Thomas would not confirm where her dad's remains are kept.
Among the other concerns raised was the official story of Brown's personal manager Charles Bobbit, who died in 2017 at age 87. He was the only person in the room when Brown died but his story has been described as 'vague'.
Brown's manager Frank Copsidas said: 'The story was always a little vague.' Andre White added: 'It didn't make sense.' And his friend Fannie Brown Burford said: 'Knew he was lying right off.'
Daughter, LaRhonda Pettit and son-in-law Darren Lumar, also both alleged that Brown was murdered. They both have since died. Lumar was murdered a year after making the claims in an as-yet unsolved killing.
The body of James Brown lies in repose during a viewing at the Apollo theater on December 28, 2006 in New York City. His widow, children, friends and business associates are pushing for a criminal investigation into his death
WHO IS JACQUELYN HOLLANDER?
Jacque Hollander accused James Brown of raping her
Jacque Hollander is a circus performer who accused Brown of raping her in the 1980s.
She had worked with Brown and recorded music with him.
He was never proscecuted over her claims but it was Jacque who first went to CNN with the murder claims.
She is said to have been friends with his third wife Adrienne, even telling her about her allegations of rape.
Jacque told CNN she could prove that James Brown had been murdered. She also said there was 'no doubt' Adrienne was killed too.
The CNN investigation has also uncovered friends of his third wife, Adrienne Brown, believe she too was murdered.
Officially Adrienne died on January 6, 1996, two days after undergoing plastic surgery. But a retired police detective has since come forward with evidence from an informant which alleges she was given a fatal drug overdose.
The doctor named in the allegations denied any knowledge but Adrienne's close friend Jacque Hollander told the network: 'There's no doubt she was murdered.'
In a wide ranging investigation, a number of the allegations stem from Hollander, who accused Brown of raping her in 1988 after the pair worked together. It also details further allegations of Brown's history of violence against women.
Kay Mixon, an advocate for domestic violence victims in Aiken County, South Carolina, knew Adrienne. She even alleges Brown had something to do with his wife's death.
She said: 'And they announced that she had died, over an overdose. And my first thing was, 'No she didn't. He killed her.' I can't prove it, and I probably shouldn't say it, but I will take that to my grave. I believe he either did it or he had someone do it.'
Soul singer James Brown is shown with his wife Adrienne in this Feb. 24, 1994 photo, during a visit to the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia
James Brown, flanked by lawyers James Huff, left, and Buddy Dallas, right, as he leaves the jail Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004. Brown was released on a domestic violence charge and was ordered not to contact his wife, 33-year-old Tomi Rae Brown
Soul singer James Brown leaves an Augusta cemetery after burying his wife Adrienne Brown in 1996. She died two days after undergoing cosmetic surgery
Yamma Brown, pictured left in 2007, declined an autopsy when her father died
Jacque Hollander, pictured, is a circus performer who accused Brown of raping her in the 1980s. She told CNN she could prove that James Brown had been murdered and said there was 'no doubt' Adrienne was killed too
James Brown pictured wit his fourth wife Tomi Rae Hynie
Brown's official cause of death at 73 was listed as a heart attack and fluid in the lungs. At least 13 people close to the legendary singer have demanded an autopsy on his body
A notebook from a police informant Linda Bennett said of Adrienne's death: 'I know he murdered James Brown's wife (as he referred to her) I know he knew he did + he was trying desperately to cover. I know because he told me — HE TOLD ME SO HIMSELF, then he tried to kill me.'
Even fourth wife Tomi Rae told a TV crew in 2005: 'This is my last chance to get away from something that I'm convinced is going to kill me. And I wouldn't be the first, so.'
Brown was never prosecuted with raping Hollander but she began saving evidence and documents about him and said she told his wife Adrienne about at the time.
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THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AGAINST BROWN
Singer James Brown pictured after his arrest in 2004 after he allegedly pushed wife, Tomi Rae Brown, to the floor during an argument
1988: Third wife Adrienne checked into a hospital in Augusta with bruises covering her body. Hollander alleges Brown raped her shortly before this.
1994-99: Backup singer named Lisa Rushton accused Brown of demanding sexual favors, cutting her pay and keeping her off stage when she refused.
She also allged he put a hand on her buttocks. She later withdrew the suit.
1999-2000: Lisa Agbalaya said Brown told her he had 'bull testicles' in a civil lawsuit. Brown was cleared of sexual harassment by a jury in LA but found liable for wrongful termination.
2004: Brown's fourth wife went to police with scratches and bruising. Brown pleaded guilty to domestic violence but avoided jail and paid a $1,087 fine.
James Brown, pictured in 1980, was known as the Godfather of Soul
