In a final poignant moment, O.J. Simpson's last meaningful conversation with his longtime lawyer took place just before Easter, at the country club residence Simpson had rented in the southwest area of the Las Vegas Strip.
Recalling the encounter, attorney Malcolm LaVergne shared, "He was awake, alert and chilling. He's on the couch... drinking a beer and watching TV. And so that was the last time we had effective back-and-forth conversations. He's usually the one who keeps me up on the news... so we were just catching up on the news then."
Approximately a week later, on April 5, a doctor mentioned that Simpson was "transitioning," as described by LaVergne. During LaVergne's last visit the following week, Simpson could only muster the strength to request water and opt to watch a TV golf tournament over a tennis match.
"Of course he chose golf," LaVergne shared with The Associated Press in an interview. "He was an absolute golf fanatic."
Simpson passed away on April 10, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer the previous year. He was 76.
On the next day, a statement released by Simpson's family on X (formerly Twitter) announced that Simpson had "lost his battle with cancer" while being "surrounded by his children and grandchildren." However, LaVergne stated on Tuesday that only one person was present with Simpson at the time of his passing, identified by the attorney as "a close family member." The attorney chose not to disclose the identity of this individual.
"It's important to understand that they have shared O.J. with the world throughout their entire lives," remarked LaVergne about Simpson's adult children from his first marriage - Arnelle Simpson, aged 55, and Jason Simpson, aged 53 - as well as the children he had with his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson before her tragic death in 1994: Sydney Simpson, aged 38, and Justin Simpson, aged 35. A social media post from the family requested "privacy and understanding" during this period of transition.
"Initially, they shared the good side of O.J. But eventually, he became infamous," LaVergne explained. "And then, from 1994 onwards, they had to share the negative side of O.J. with the world. Ultimately, these children have just lost their father. They also bear the weight of his global fame, his controversial image, and the polarizing effect he has."
LaVergne, who is in charge of managing Simpson's estate, revealed insights from his final interactions with the former football star, movie actor, sports commentator, TV personality, and infamous figure in a high-profile murder trial, whom he has legally represented since 2009.
Attorney: O.J. Simpson's Body Won't Be Studied for Brain Trauma
An attorney for O.J. Simpson stated that Simpson's body will not be studied for the effects of chronic brain trauma from possible blows to the head during his NFL career. The attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, deflected questions about any potential deathbed confession by Simpson, emphasizing Simpson's wishes to his children.
According to LaVergne, Simpson expressed his desire to be cremated, and there are no immediate plans for a public memorial. Discussions about a potential celebration of life or ceremony have been tentative, with Simpson's four children named as the beneficiaries of his estate in his last will and testament filed in Nevada state court.
While the exact value of the estate is undisclosed, LaVergne mentioned that Simpson did not own a home in the states where he resided. Simpson, famously acquitted of criminal charges related to the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend in 1994, had a tumultuous legal history that included being found liable for the deaths in a civil court proceeding in 1997.
In Las Vegas, Simpson went to prison in 2008 for nine years after being found guilty of armed robbery in a 2007 encounter at a casino hotel with two collectibles dealers.
He lived at a golf-and-country club lifestyle since his release from prison in October 2017, sometimes offering social media posts about sports and golf. His last message was Feb. 11: wearing a San Francisco 49ers jersey and predicting his old team would defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs won.
LaVergne acknowledged that Simpson died without paying the families of Simpson's slain ex-wife and Goldman the bulk of a $33.5 million judgment they were awarded in the 1997 civil liability case.
Attorney David Cook, representing the Goldman family, said Tuesday that he thought the judgment owed today, including unpaid interest, is more than $114 million. Cook told CBS News that Simpson's death was "a death without penance" and said that he would keep fighting for the family's settlement.
"Efforts went nowhere. Did he have other money? Nothing that we could find. Do I think he was hiding money? Maybe," Cook said, adding that Goldman and their legal team have not been able to access Simpson's NFL pension or trust.
LaVergne said last week the Goldmans wouldn't get a penny of Simpson's assets, and then backtracked.
"That 'zero, nothing' remark to a local reporter was harsh and in response to what an attorney for Fred Goldman said (within an hour of notification of OJ's death), not Fred Goldman himself. Mr. Goldman's personal post-OJ death remarks have been non-offensive and understandable given the circumstances," LaVergne said in a statement to CBS News.
He said Tuesday he believed the amount owed was more than $200 million. He said Simpson's assets won't amount to that.
"They're going to be invited to view my homework," he said of the Goldman and Brown families. "I want to show them what I have with the caveat that if they believe something else is out there ... they're going to have to use their own attorneys, their own resources, to try and chase down that pot of gold."
