HollyMatkinParkland, FL – A woman who briefly took in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz after the death of his adoptive mother has filed court paperwork seeking control of the dead woman’s estate.
Rocxanne Deschamps submitted the paperwork on Feb. 15 – just one day after the school massacre, the New York Post reported.
Deschamps also had Nikolas’ younger brother, 17-year-old Zachary, involuntarily committed to a mental facility on Feb. 16.
The brothers were adopted by Roger and Lynda Cruz as babies, the New York Post reported.
Roger died from a heart attack approximately 10 years ago, and 68-year-old Lynda died of pneumonia on Nov. 1, 2017.
Nikolas and Zachary, 19, initially moved in with Deschamps, a longtime friend of the family, but Nikolas soon left to move in with James and Kimberly Snead, after he and Deschamps got into an argument about his weapons collection, according to the New York Post.
Nikolas was friends with the Sneads’ son, who investigators said had no knowledge of the impending massacre.
“We had this monster living under our roof, and we didn’t know,” Kimberly said. “We didn’t see this side of him.”
Deschamps told the court that she should be in control of the estate because she was caring for Zachary, “a 50 percent minor beneficiary,” Newsweek reported.
If the court grants Deschamps’ request, she would be responsible for disbursing any of the brothers’ inheritances, and for settling their adoptive mother’s debts.
Deschamps could also charge an estate fee to compensate herself for overseeing the estate, although that fee would need to be reviewed by a judge, the New York Post reported.
The Sneads said that Nikolas stood to inherit at least $800,000 when he turned 22 years old, according to Newsweek.
It was unclear whether Zachary has been released from the involuntary commitment.