The mother of Samuel Monroe Jr., an actor known for his role in "Menace II Society," has petitioned a court to establish a conservatorship over her son, who remains hospitalized on life support in Los Angeles. The legal filing raises questions about his marital status and challenges the authority of the woman who identifies as his spouse.
Joyce Patton filed court documents seeking to take control of decisions regarding her son's care and affairs, according to records obtained by TMZ. The petition disputes whether Monroe was ever legally married to Shawna Stewart, the mother of his children.
In the filing, Patton asserts that Monroe has not resided with Stewart for more than 15 years. She further states that her son has lived with her for the past four years.
The petition also alleges that Stewart has been collecting funds from a GoFundMe account established to cover Monroe's medical expenses, in addition to receiving his film residuals.
Stewart responded to the conservatorship filing in a statement to TMZ, saying, "Well, we will be fighting in court then. Everything will come out." She indicated her belief that Monroe did not want his mother controlling his finances or making decisions on his behalf.
Monroe has been hospitalized since April after initially seeking treatment for a severe case of meningitis. His condition deteriorated when the infection progressed to MRSA pneumonia, followed by a series of additional severe medical complications.
Stewart previously told TMZ that she held power of attorney for Monroe and had been collaborating with family members on decisions concerning his quality of life. The conservatorship petition from Patton now seeks to formalize legal authority over those decisions under her control instead.
The dispute centers not only on who should make medical and financial decisions for the incapacitated actor, but also on fundamental questions about his living arrangements and marital status in the years leading up to his hospitalization.