In a startling legal development, excerpts from Priscilla Presley’s upcoming memoir have been made public through a lawsuit, revealing the heartbreaking details of her daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s final hours. The information, filed in a Los Angeles court by Priscilla’s former business partners, provides a raw, firsthand account of the family’s private tragedy on January 12, 2023, and fuels an already intense legal battle over the Presley estate.
Lawsuit Reveals Harrowing Final Moments
The deeply personal account comes from two pages of Priscilla’s forthcoming book, “Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis,” which were included in an amended complaint. The lawsuit was filed by Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, who are in a bitter financial dispute with Priscilla.
According to the memoir excerpts, Priscilla rushed to a San Fernando Valley hospital where Lisa Marie was being treated for complications from a small bowel obstruction. She describes the terrifying moment a “code blue” alarm went off, signaling that Lisa Marie’s heart had stopped. Doctors managed to restart her heart, but the prognosis was devastating.
Priscilla writes about asking a doctor what kind of life her daughter would have if she remained on life support. The doctor’s reported reply was grim: there would be none. This exchange set the stage for an impossible decision.
A Mother’s Agonizing Choice
The memoir pages paint a vivid picture of a mother’s grief. Priscilla describes seeing her daughter with little brain activity, a “shell” of the vibrant person she once was. Overcome with sorrow, she recounts the moment she made the final call.
Priscilla allegedly whispered to the doctor to remove life support, a decision that she says caused her to collapse in despair. This account adds a deeply emotional layer to the official cause of death, which was later confirmed by the medical examiner as complications from bariatric surgery Lisa Marie had years earlier. The excerpts portray her decision as an act of love to end her daughter’s suffering.
Explosive Accusations and Legal Fallout
While Priscilla’s account is one of maternal anguish, her former partners tell a different story. Kruse and Fialko’s $50 million lawsuit accuses Priscilla of ending her daughter’s life prematurely for financial benefit. They claim this action directly violated Lisa Marie’s healthcare directive, which they allege instructed doctors to prolong her life at all costs.
The lawsuit contains several shocking allegations:
- That Priscilla’s decision to remove life support was motivated by financial gain.
- That she ignored a legal document outlining Lisa Marie’s end-of-life wishes.
- The suit even makes sensational claims linking Priscilla to Elvis Presley’s death in 1977, alleging she exerted undue pressure on him.
Priscilla’s legal team has fiercely denied these claims. Her attorneys, Marty Singer and Wayne Harman, called the accusations baseless and compared them to conspiracy theories. Priscilla, who is 80, has countersued Kruse for financial elder abuse, claiming her ex-partner is trying to control her finances through fraud.
| Key Figure | Role in Lawsuit | Primary Allegation |
| Priscilla Presley | Defendant & Counter-Plaintiff | Claims she is a victim of elder abuse and made a compassionate decision for her daughter. |
| Brigitte Kruse & Kevin Fialko | Plaintiffs | Accuse Priscilla of fraud and ending Lisa Marie’s life for financial reasons. |
| Lisa Marie Presley | Subject of Dispute | Her final wishes and the circumstances of her death are at the center of the case. |
Family Tensions and the Presley Legacy
The court documents also pull back the curtain on strained relationships within the Presley family. The complaint includes a message allegedly from Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough, to Priscilla. In the message, Riley reportedly reveals that her mother was planning to sue Priscilla shortly before she died, but Riley intervened.
Riley wrote that she “protected” her grandmother from the lawsuit during a difficult time, a detail that highlights the complex family dynamics following Lisa Marie’s death. This is not the first sign of friction, as Riley and Priscilla previously settled a legal dispute over who would control Lisa Marie’s trust.
These legal battles cast a shadow over the Presley legacy, which is rooted in Elvis’s massive estate, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Such disputes are not uncommon in high-profile families. A 2023 study by the American Bar Association found that allegations of undue influence are present in 60 percent of inheritance cases, showing how often money and emotions clash. The ongoing saga is a painful reminder of the human tragedy behind the iconic name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lawsuit against Priscilla Presley about?
Her former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, are suing her for $50 million. They accuse her of fraud and allege she prematurely ended Lisa Marie Presley’s life support for financial gain.
What do the memoir excerpts reveal?
The excerpts detail Priscilla’s perspective of Lisa Marie’s final hours. She describes the grim medical prognosis and her agonizing decision to remove life support after being told her daughter would have no quality of life.
How did Lisa Marie Presley die?
Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12, 2023, at age 54. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was complications from a small bowel obstruction, which was related to a bariatric surgery she had years earlier.
What is Riley Keough’s role in this?
The lawsuit includes a message from Riley Keough to Priscilla, indicating Lisa Marie had planned to sue her mother before she died. Riley stated that she “protected” Priscilla from this lawsuit, revealing deep tensions within the family.
