New Details: Dad Of Jackson Molestation "Victim" Died A Lonely Man; Underwent Plastic Surgery To Hide Identity
Nov. 18 2009, Published 12:25 p.m. ET
Evan Chandler, the father of Michael Jackson's alleged molestation victim Jordan Chandler, spent his last days in isolation -- depressed and estranged from his loved ones -- before fatally shooting himself in the head, family members said Tuesday.
New details about the sad personal life of Chandler, a 65-year-old Beverly Hills dentist-turned-recluse, have surfaced -- including that the once-handsome man had drastically changed his looks with plastic surgery to avoid backlash over the molestation incident from the late King of Pop’s fans.
EXCLUSIVE: Father of Michael Jackson Molestation Accuser Dead
RadarOnline.com has also learned the elder Chandler had been estranged from his son, Jordan, for the last three years, following an incident in which the son received a restraining order against him following an alleged attack with a barbell.
"Over the years, Evan began to develop tremendous mood swings. He was always depressed," a family member told the NY Post. "He stopped coming to family events because he was afraid of being recognized, like anyone in the family would care. That eventually turned into permanent estrangement from his family."
Uncle Of Alleged Molestation Victim Responds to Jackson Death
Jersey City Police Department spokesman Stan Eason gave RadarOnline.com details of the suicide.
“Evan Chandler’s body was found at 5:35 p.m. on November 5 by the concierge at his luxury apartment building in Jersey City," Eason said. "We have ruled it as suicide because he was found with a gun held to his body and had a single bullet wound to the side of his head.
UPDATE: Cops Say Chandler’s Death Was Suicide
“There was no note found in the apartment but officers did find medication in keeping with a serious medical condition. A doctor based at Colanta Hematology in Bayonne, NJ, had called the concierge, asking him check on Mr. Chandler’s apartment as Mr. Chandler had missed an appointment. It was thanks to the concierge’s actions that Mr. Chandler’s body was discovered. Mr. Chandler’s body has now been returned to his family.”
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In 1993, Chandler reported Jackson to authorities in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, saying the King of Pop had molested his 13-year-old son. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office launched a 13-month probe into the allegations, and convened a grand jury investigate the sexual abuse claims. In 1994, the boy gave police audio-taped evidence alleging abuse by Jackson. Both Evan and Jordan Chandler brought a civil lawsuit against Jackson, but the case never went to trial because the boy received a civil settlement of $20 million for “personal injuries arising out of claims of negligence” from the superstar.
