NATIONAL BRIEFING / MISSOURI
The heirs of the late “Wizard of Oz” actor Mickey Carroll have sued his caretaker for control of his assets.
Carroll, one of the last surviving Munchkins from the beloved 1939 film, died in suburban St. Louis on Thursday at age 89. Four months before he died, Carroll signed papers turning over control of his assets to caretaker Linda Dodge.
Relatives estimate that he left an estate of more than $1 million. They say that Dodge and others took advantage of the actor when he was in the throes of dementia and that he wasn’t competent to sign the papers.
Dodge denies the allegations, calling the disagreement a “family squabble.” The family has asked a probate judge to freeze the assets and appoint a caretaker for them.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
