NASSAU, Bahamas (February 11, 2007) Thieves have targeted the former residence of Anna Nicole Smith and her partner Howard K. Stern Access Hollywood?s Tony Potts confirmed earlier today.
Smith?s lawyer Ron Rale told Access that looters took personal affects belonging to the late star. Rale asked Potts to make a plea on the air for a return of the items. They will be taken back on the policy of “no questions asked,” he said.
Among the items believed to have been looted are photographs of Anna Nicole?s baby Dannielynn and paintings the model made of her daughter prior to her death at the age of 39, last Thursday. Other items were missing as well.
“Apparently the culprits took all kinds of Anna’s personal property, including computers and photographs,” Rale told Potts and NBC?s “Today” Show.
An already distraught Stern, who was in the Bahamas with Anna?s daughter Dannielynn over the weekend, is said to be fuming, Rale said.
“Howard obviously is angry as am I,” Rale said. “We are witnessing some of the most detestable things people can do.”
On Sunday, Stern and Dannielynn reclaimed the Bahamas mansion where the robbery took place — the same residence where they lived before the former Playboy Playmate died last week, according to Rale.
The home is embroiled in an ownership debate. Ben Thompson, a former boyfriend of Anna Nicole?s was in a legal battle with the model over the residence.
Smith said Thompson bought her the mansion as a gift. Thompson’s attorney, Godfrey Pinder, has said the house was on loan to Smith. He said Smith’s death meant her claims to the mansion were no longer legitimate.
Munroe, standing beside Pinder outside the home as he spoke, said the former Playboy playmate bought the mansion in July for $900,000. Her ownership of the home was the basis of Smith’s claim to residency in the Bahamas. Smith had filed a lawsuit asking a Bahamas court to recognize her purchase and reject Thompson’s claim to the house. The Bahamas Supreme Court has scheduled a Feb. 26 hearing on the matter, Munroe said.
Pinder also has told Access Hollywood that there is an injunction in the Bahamas that would prevent Stern from taking the baby to the U.S.
Thompson took control of the property through a lawyer on Saturday and changed the locks for the second time in 24 hours. Outside the gated mansion in Nassau, Smith’s attorney Wayne Munroe told reporters he had retaken possession of the estate and filed a robbery complaint with police over computer equipment and other personal effects allegedly taken out.
Additionally, Access Hollywood has learned Thompson is now working to help Larry Birkhead, the photographer claiming he is the father of Anna Nicole?s baby Dannielynn. At the same time, it has been reported that Birkhead has teamed up with Smith?s mother Virgie Arthur in an effort to gain custody of Dannielynn who?s paternity he is disputing.
After visiting with Dannielynn in the Bahamas, Howard K. Stern is now en route to Florida to be with Anna Nicole?s body Access can reveal. Her estranged mother is also reportedly heading there too, to claim the body as next of kin.
Stay tuned to AccessHollywood.com where we will bring you more breaking developments in this tragic story.
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