Reese Witherspoon’s Dad Accused of Bigamy
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Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic(NEW YORK) — Although a pregnant Reese Witherspoon is adding to her own family with husband Jim Toth, the 36-year-old actress’ parents are headed to court after her mother Betty Witherspoon sued husband John Witherspoon in Tennessee, accusing him of bigamy.
In the lawsuit, which is filed against John, 70, Betty says her husband can’t be married to Tricianne Taylor, 60, whose wedding to John was announced in the Tennessean newspaper last month, according to USA Today, because John is still married to her. The April 22 announcement said that John and Taylor were married Jan. 14, and there will be a summer reception in Nashville.
Betty says that she is still in love with her husband, and does not want a divorce from him. Betty describes her husband as troubled — with drinking, hoarding and money — and she says in the documents that she believes he is suffering from early-onset dementia.
“When I confronted my husband, he said he didn’t know who Tricianne Taylor was and that he did not remember getting married,” she said in the affidavit.
Betty also says that friends told her that they saw the two at an Octoberfest event, when John tried to bring Taylor to Reese‘s California wedding. Taylor was ultimately refused entry because she was not on the guest list, according to the affidavit.
Taylor would not speak to Betty when she confronted her, she says, and would not respond to a letter she wrote telling her John is still married. Betty says that Taylor is living in a Nashville condo owned by Reese Witherspoon, and that she has gotten him to change his will.
“I also fear for my husband’s personal safety and the safety of my family,” Betty said.
Court records show that Betty would like Taylor to return any vehicles, jewelry or other property acquired since their wedding.
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