Presley Hair Auction Messed up
A lawsuit claims items to be auctioned were stolen more than 20 years ago
NBCU Photo Bank
Elvis Presley memorabilia, including some of his hair, is set to be auctioned in Chicago on Oct. 18, 2009.
Elvis’ hair is causing quite a stir.
In a last minute twist of events, the Elvis Presley memorabilia that will be auctioned Sunday in Chicago is now claimed to have been stolen more than 20 years ago.
A lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday says the Elvis Presley memorabilia, which includes a gold suit and a handful of the King’s hair, belonged to Sterling Gary Pepper, a personal friend and employee of Presley’s.
The suit filed by John Tate, Pepper’s cousin and legal guardian as of 1976, claims that Nancy Pease Whitehead took the valuable Presley paraphernalia after moving Pepper, who suffered from cerebral palsy, into a home for disabled people in the mid-1970’s.
The suit claims Whitehead had been hired by Presley himself to take care of Pepper.
Pepper was eventually moved by Tate to California to stay closer to his family. He died March 29, 1980, the suit said.
Now Tate and Norma Deeble are asking for the material to be given back and are suing for $75,000 both Whitehead and Hindman Auctioneers, Inc., the company handling the auction.
The two plaintiffs say they didn’t know the precious memorabilia’s whereabouts until they discovered it while listening to the news.
The suit also claims Pepper also owned Presley's hair, a 1957 Chevy automobile, clothes and autographed photos of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable.
Posted Saturday, Oct 17, 2009 - 1:59 PM CST
