FAYETTEVILLE -- Three family members of Carl John Smith can claim his $822,000 probate estate, a circuit court judge decided.
The June 21 ruling puts to rest questions about whether the estate will go into the Washington County general fund. Smith died in 2010. State law requires a county to wait seven years after death before putting unclaimed money into the general fund.
Washington County Treasurer Bobby Hill said he sent three checks June 25 to Wendy Howerton, the lawyer for Smith's heirs.
Laura Lee Broderick of Bethel, Conn., filed documents, including death and birth certificates, to prove she's Smith's rightful heir on May 16, 2017. Other family members filed shortly afterward.
Broderick died before the ruling in her favor, so her proxy, Pamela Vitko, was awarded $352,339, according to a court order. Heirs Cecily Lennard Lucas and Victoria Gilbertie were paid $352,339 and $117,446 respectively.
Other people claiming to be family filed an appeal to the case Monday.
Howerton didn't return a message left at her office Wednesday. An attorney representing the appealing family members didn't return a message left at the law firm's office Wednesday. Washington County Attorney Brian Lester said in email Thursday the county has no comment on the case.
Smith, who lived at 3103 Karen Ave. in Springdale, had no will when he died at age 63.
He retired to Northwest Arkansas from Bethlehem, Conn., according to County Clerk records on his estate.
NW News on 07/28/2018