Peaceful home after father’s death- Casey Kasem’s kids, wife Jean Kasem won’t battle over DJ’s burial site

Casey Kasem's three eldest children have no plans to fight their estranged stepmom over his final resting place, sources told the Daily News on Monday.

The kids – Kerri, 41, Mike, 40, and Julie, 38 – were at his bedside when he died early Father's Day morning and say they believe his spirit will be with them when they hold a memorial service next weekend without any physical remains, a family source told The News.

Kerri was her dad's conservator during his final days in hospice but informed the hospital shortly after his death that her stepmother, Jean Kasem, was taking over as the decision maker, Kerri's lawyer told The News.

"I was contacted by (Jean's lawyer) Steve Haney and asked if we would make arrangements with the hospital for Casey's remains to be turned over. We immediately responded that we'd be happy to do so, and Kerri informed the hospital that Jean had complete authority regarding final disposition," lawyer Troy Martin said.

"The attorneys are acting cordially in this matter at this point. Mr. Haney did confirm that he would inform the children of the final arrangements," Martin told The News.

 

Casey Kasem, 82, died at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Wash., after battling advanced Lewy Body Disease and sepsis in recent weeks.

He was the subject of a bitter family feud that started last summer when his eldest children accused Jean of blocking visitation once the ailing DJ lost the ability to walk on his own or talk on the phone.

Julie filed a petition to become her dad's conservator late last year as Jean claimed her stepdaughters created a "toxic" environment at her house. An independent, court-appointed lawyer met with the "American Top 40" star and confirmed he wanted to continue seeing his kids from his first marriage.

The sides reached a partial settlement in December, but Kerri petitioned for – and won – her own conservatorship last month after Jean pulled her seriously ill husband out of a southern California nursing home in the middle of the night against his doctor's advice.

Jean disconnected Casey's feeding tube and loaded him into the back seat of an SUV despite warnings he could die, according to a signed statements from Casey's doctor and nurse obtained by private investigator Logan Clarke.

Clarke shared the statements exclusively with The News last week, adding that he met with Santa Monica Police Thursday and asked for a criminal investigation into alleged elder abuse.

Jean's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Best known for her roles in "Ghostbusters" and "Cheers," Jean took Casey to a private residence outside Seattle last month and threw raw meat at Kerri when she arrived to move her dad by ambulance to St. Anthony on June 1.

The hospital said Casey was admitted that day in critical condition with a serious infection from a bedsore.

Kerri previously told The News that her dad developed the "massive" bedsore while in Jean's care.

Kerri's lawyer told the court that Casey's body began shutting down in the hospital due to sepsis, and that doctors urged Kerri to transition him to end-of-life hospice. Kerri initially fought the advice but eventually agreed, she told The News.

Jean returned to California while her husband was at St. Anthony and got a Los Angeles County judge to order restoration of hydration and nutrition June 9.

The judge revoked the order Wednesday upon receiving medical records stating Casey's system was rejecting the measures, leading to painful complications akin to drowning.

Jean stormed out of the courtroom Wednesday saying the judge had "blood" on his hands.

Despite the dramatic legal wrangling, Kerri's lawyer said Monday that the eldest daughter was grateful she was able to get to her dad and ensure he was comfortable and surrounded by love in his final days.

Casey was on a morphine drip during his hospice, the lawyer previously said.

"Kerri, Mike and Julie believe their efforts over the last month to take control of Casey's health care were well worth it. And the times they spent with him over the last couple weeks were very healing for him and for them," Martin told The News.