Celia Cruz's Co-Executor May Have Gone to the Dark Side

The Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, died in 2003 survived by her husband (no children).  Celia's will left her entire estate to her husband, Pedro Knight, to whom she had been married for over 40 years.

However, Pedro was not appointed as the executor; instead, two other individuals, Omer Pardillo and Luis Falcon, were appointed as co-executors.

Pardillo is now suing Falcon asserting that "he has drained funds from accounts for Knight, made 'extravagant expenditures' and failed to account for transfers of more than $1 million from Cruz's estate."  Jeffery Gold, Judge to consider removing Cruz executor, Jan. 5, 2007.

In addition to scheduling the Feb. 9 hearing, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter E. Doyne has scheduled a hearing for February 9, 2007 and appointed a New York lawyer to represent Knight's interests as guardian because Knight is suffering from dementia.