Anne Heche's son struggling to pay estate debts following 2022 death after car crash
Anne Heche's son is struggling to pay the debts she left after her sudden death in 2022, according to new court documents.
In Los Angeles court filings last week obtained by USA TODAY, Heche's son, Homer Heche Laffoon, as administer of her estate told the court in a status report that her estate "is not yet in a condition to be closed."
Heche died Aug. 11, 2022, at 53, nine days after she was pulled from a burning car and hospitalized incritical condition following a crash in Los Angeles. Heche suffered a "severe anoxic brain injury" as a result of the accident and fell into a coma, according to a statement provided to USA TODAY at the time.
The "Another World" actress drove her car into a home in Mar Vista, which erupted in flames, a Los Angeles Police Department officer then confirmed.
Detectives found narcotics in her system, LAPD spokesman Officer Jeff Lee told The Associated Press. However, she was not impaired by illicit substances at the time of the accident, according to an autopsy and toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office. Those drugs were in her system from previous use or administered to her in the hospital, the office said.
Anne Heche toxicology report shows 'no evidence of impairment by illicit substances' at time of crash
Laffoon, 22, whom Heche shared with her ex-husband Coleman Laffoon, requested control of his mother's estate soon after. Heche did not have a legal will.
According to Laffoon, 22, there are many issues regarding the administration of Heche's estate, including multiple sources of income, Heche's lack of records or financial organization, "royalty payment procedures" and a potential lawsuit resulting from the circumstances of Heche's death.
Anne Heche's life before car crash included mental health struggles, Ellen DeGeneres romance
Laffoon notes Heche's "modest bank account" and pre-death projects, as well as the several claims against her estate, complicating matters. Three of seven claims against the estate are $2 million or more, leaving the estate unable to pay its debts.
One of the claims is from the owners of the home Heche crashed into in Los Angeles, who are also requesting a jury trial and $2 million in damages from the estate, accusing Heche and others of negligence and trespassing, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Contributing: Pamela Avila
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anne Heche's son unable to pay estate debts after death in car crash
