mrs. katherine jackson. and his ex-wife debbie rowe both requested that it be pushed back. eeded time to get their paper together. mrs. katherine jackson has temporary guardianship of the children. it is not clear whether debbie rowe will challenge. rowe is the biological mother of two of the children. and coming up, we'll speak to a close jackson family friend and adviser. we'll talk about those children that you see there. how those children are doing. how the family is doing after all this. we'll have the very latest information for you tonight on what's going on with the michael jackson investigation. they're in grief. we'll talk about all of it. >>> meantime, a developing story coming in to cnn, coming from brazil. the former boxer champion, arrestturo gati has been found dead at a sea side resort. the investigator describe it as strange but said it is unclear how gatti died. there are reportedly blood stains on the floor. he had arrived at the hotel on friday with his wife and young son. he had a contrary record of 40 and 9 with 31 knockouts. wow. he retired from boxin

mrs. katherine jackson. it is that meeting between president obama and hug ru -- henry gates and the police sergeant. now, as you know by now, they invited them over for beer and talk and a little white house tour. and they were hoping to put the rest of the racial controversy over gate's arrest earlier this month in their home in massachusetts. and later this evening, we could find out just how things went and they are telling us that they plan toed hold a news conference, and that will happen in about, well, 20 minutes. >> from the crumbling, they will have a fancy newed building this fall. they will take your tour just ahead. they are back with that full forecast. so keep it right here. b@b@ fa >>> for the first time, we're hearing from the woman convicted of killing her four daughters. taking a copy of the tape. and that is a chilling look into the girl's last day alive with the mother. and they spent much of the day listening to the tapes. joining us with more that could have been interesting to say the

mrs. katherine jackson. >> everyone, katherine jackson is the matriarch of the family and beloved by many around the country and around the world and the truth is she is 79 years old and, so, there are some concern, some people are saying maybe debbie rowe should come in and have some parental rights with these children. what does she have, what recourse does she have, or legal rights does have to these children about cust sdmae. >> no question when it comes to the issue of minor children a superior court or probate court retains the ultimate decision making on what is best for the children. that doesn't mean they won't pay attention to the nomination of mr. jackson, but, ultimately, the decision is what is in the best interest of the children and if the court considers mrs. jackson's health or other time constraints wouldn't permit her to do what's best for the children, the court would consider the successor, which i believe is diana ross and she would be considered and determined to be qualified or not qualified and then ultimately the court might pass over all the nominees and appoint

mrs. jackson, katherine jackson.d up being so powerful and meaningful came from her. i think she in her quiet way was a very important part of the tone of this event. just for one example she reached out to maya angelou originally. that poem in a way set a tone of dignity that was very, very meaningful for a lot of people. >> right. we are going to continue our special coverage of michael jackson and catch you up on other big news. including governor sarah palin talking to cnn about her bombshell decision to resign. >> i'm not a quitter, i'm a fighter. to fight what is right without the constraints surrounding me in these final months. >>> let's check on some of the other stories making news. here is erica hill. >> sarah palin says she is not a quitter. cnn's drew griffin caught up with her on a family fishing trip to ask her about her decision to resign. >> it is not about retreating or quitting, it is forwarding a positive agenda. that is what caught people off guard, this is unconventional. that is who we are as a

mrs. katherine jackson and his ex-wife debbie rowe. katherine jackson has temporary guardianship of the children t not clear if debbie rowe is going to challenge her for cu custody. schett biological mother of the jackson's two oelgder children, the younger one blanket, not sure who the biological mom is. until this week, we never heard jackson's children talk before. but his daughter paris touched inch with her comments at the end of tuesday's memorial service. >> every since i was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. and i just want to say i love him. so much. >> i hate to see that. i don't want to play that anymore. it's too hurtful, it's too painful. so if we can avod laying that sound bite. it's been on every single tv show. poor little girl, enough already. in the last week or so, we've seen other painful stories of young children who have lost their parents. steve mcnair left behind four children and around we just report his funeral was today in mississippi, a moving service there. and there's the tragic

mrs. katherine jackson and his ex-wife is debbie rowe. s temporary guardianship of the children. it is not clear if debbie rowe is going to challenge her for custody. rowe is the biological mother of jackson's two children. you should have all that information because it's been reported so much over the past week. so let's talk now to someone who knows the jackson family very well. talk about the investigation. and really how the family's doing, especially those children. i'm joined now from new york by the reverend al sharpton. as you know, she a very close friend of the family and thank you very much, sir. can you talk to us? there have been so many rumors over the past week and you and i talked about this in los angeles. that people don't know what's true and what's not true. do you know anything about the investigation now? do we know? have you heard from the family whether or not it's moved from a death investigation to a homicide investigation? >> no, i have no idea from the family. i know the family's position has been from the begi

jackson's mother katherine their guardian. >> there's no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared under loving care of mrs. katherine jackson. >> reporter: the deal is between the jackson family and debbie rowe, the pipe icon's wife of three years and mother to prince michael and paris michael, the two oldest children. rowe gets visitation but nothing else. >> this is not a money deal. it's not about money. >> reporter: michael jackson's father joe won't be in the picture since he no longer lives in the home with his estranged wife. the custody agreement will be formalized in court on monday but there are still many unresolved issues surrounding jackson. mainly how his estate will be managed and what killed him. the jackson family wants to make sure the superstar's wealth is handled with care. he could be worth billions in debt if his assets and legacy are managed effectively. >> we're talking about the most rich intellectual property assets in entertainment assets ever. >> reporter: as for what killed jackson the coroner is expected to release toxicology details sometime next week. as investigators deter

mrs. katherine jackson, joseph tracks and, the children of michael jackson, to his brothers and sisters, andmust discover what they're calling, and when they do, they must do their job so well that the living, the dead come on board, could do done no better. he constantly challenged us to become our best by stating that if you cannot be -- just be a shrub in the valley, but the age from on the side of the road. if you cannot be the highway, just be a trail. if you cannot be the son, just be a star. whether you win or fail, you have to be the best of what you are. michael jackson was truly the best of what he was. [applause] finally, martin luther king jr. said, in life, if you should become a street sweeper, you should sweep streets so well -- in fact, you must sweep streets like beethoven created music, like shakespeare created poetry. sweep the streets so that all the hopes of heaven and earth would have to pause to say coming here lived the great street sweeper who did his job well. on june 25, because he was the best, i believe have been and earth did pause indeed come up to say michael

katherine jackson applied for emergency funds. is she broke? >> i don't know where the broke issue comes -- came from. mr. jackson was very generous and provided for resources for his mother and his family and certainly his children. >> reporter: now, of course, lon dell mcmillan has represented prince, spike lee, stevie wonder. of course, he's estimating that the estate that michael jackson has could be worth $2 billion if it achieves its potential earnings and that's if the estate is managed effectively. clearly, michael jackson in death could be even more of an industry than he was during his lifetime. now, during the next hour we'll have more on katherine jackson and her grandkids and just how they're coping and living day to day. harry. >> thanks very much. >>> president obama is bringing harvard professor henry louis gates jr. and steve crowley to the white house this evening for a cold beer and discussion for race relations. chip reid joins us with more. good morning, chip. >> reporter: good morning, harry. you know, this meeting was actually sergeant crowley's idea. he suggested it to the president

mrs. katherine jackson, mr.he road. if you cannot be the highway, be a trail. if you cannot be the sun, be a star. for it isn't by size that you win or you fail. you have to be the best of what you are. michael jackson was truly the best of what he was. [ applause ] >> finally, martin luther king jr. said that in life, if it falls ever your lot to be a street sweeper, you must sweep streets so well. in fact, you must sweep streets like beethoven composed music. sweep streets, he says, like shakespeare wrote portraits. sweep streets like raphael painted pictures. sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and would have to say, here lived the great street sweeper that did his job well. on john 25th, because he was the best, i believe heaven and earth did pause, indeed, to say of michael joseph jackson, here lived a great entertainer who did his job well. [ applause ] >> to the jackson family, being a part of a world renown family who has also experienced a sudden death on who are than one occasion, my pray

mrs. katherine jackson, michael jackson's mother.re, don, knowing you as i do i'm not embarrassed to say i was moved throughout the 2 hours and 15 minutes. i know you were as well? >> i was moved, wolf. i mean, honestly, wolf, why do you always do this to me? wolf, you know, you're kind of like a dad to me. yeah, i was absolutely moved. i thought about my childhood. i was writing people about it i was talking to my mom during the service. i thought about being a little boy in church when my dad died, when my grandmother died, when my fa real father died as a kid and listening to those hymns and all those songs, i was a kid going to church on sunday, all i wanted to do was get out of church and go play my jackson 5 songs and dance, i didn't want to be in church as a kid. i realize the importance of this. but enough about me, this is about a lot of folks. this lady, young lady stopped me on my way out and said, thank you for your compliments about my reporting on this. i'm sure you recognize her, wolf this is cicely tyson, the actress

mrs. katherine jackson, mr.at if you cannot be on top of the hill, just be a shrub in the valley. but be the best little shrub on the side of the road. if you cannot be the highway just be a trail. if you cannot be the sun just be a star. it isn't by size that you win or you fail. you've got to be the best of what you are. michael jackson was truly the best of what he was. finally, in life ever you are allowed to be a street sweeper, you must sweep streets all of these wonderful, beautiful symbols of america. and i can tell you as a member of the united states congress we understand the constitution. we understand loss. and we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise. that is what the constitution stands for. >> i come, too, to thank you. for many people don't understand the heart of entertainers. they don't know how big their hearts are. they don't know how they heal it will world on behalf of america. icons like michael sing about healing the world, and so he called us into public service. it did n

mr. mcclane had been -- sources tell me they've been in talks with the other side, to give allowances to the family, and they said what -- how much money do you guys want? how much money does katherine jacksond for the children? and they were given a number. and it was mutually agreed upon. furthermore, there has been absolutely no evidence brought forward by mr. mcmillan or anyone on katherine jackson's front that he was involved with any of his business affairs. >>> agents from the dea executing a search warrant at dr. conrad murray's houston clinic. then, murray's lawyers release a bombshell. a statement confirming that a potential case of manslaughter is being built against the doctor. who was with michael jackson when he died. the statement reads, in part, "the search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter." according to murray's lawyer, a gents took a forensic image of a business computer hard drive and 21 documents during the search. murray, who is being paid $150,000 a month to care for jackson, has been at the center of what, until now, has been simply characterized as

mrs. katherine jackson. >> a custody hearing is scheduled this monday in los angeles, in fact. and we're learning today, too, that michael jackson's cardiologist is the only person police are investigating. a federal law enforcement official told cnn dr. conrad murray is their sole focus right now. murray's consistently denied that he prescribed or administered anything that could have killed jackson. and his lawyer says he does not think an arrest is imminent, but some are questioning murray's judgment because of his history of financial problems. >> he declared bankruptcy in 1992. so what? he had a domestic violence issue which he was cleared. so what? i just -- you know, he took this job which they're etically paid $150,000 a month because he wanted the money. well, most of us get jobs because we want the money. >> i think there are going to be real questions about the quality of care. already there are questions about the quality of care that he provided for michael jackson. whether it's accident, negligence, nothing at all, but i don't think it's irrelevant that the man fro

jackson's 79-year-old mother, katherine. earlier this week, attorneys declared that jackson's mother was dependent on michael financially. stating that other than extremely modest social security benefit mrs. jackson has no independent means of support including paying fore her encino -- for her encino home. this man says michael paid for everything, from grocery and utility bills to car and house payments. he bailed the family out on more than one occasion. >> he paid for everything. michael told me many times he's taking care of the family. of the mom. they lost the house twice. and he bought it back. >> legal experts say there's a financial strategy to jackson's court document. >> in order to establish her right to sue, she needs to be declared a dependent by the court. normally only the surviving children of the person who dies are entitled to sue under california law. >> the coroner's office is expecting the toxicology reports to be available next week. this is lisa fletcher for "nightline." >> the saga continues. our thanks to lisa for that. >>> when we come back, they say they'll settle your debt for pennies on the dollar, but are some debt settlement companies promises too good to

inference that we have not been forthcoming in providing information to katherine jackson's attorneys is not accurate. it goes on to say that mrs. jackson's lawyers have refused the requested terms for a confidential agreement, which is between a third party and the jackson estate. that is why they have not received this one document which is apparently what this is all about. why does this matter? probably a lot of folks asking. well, as you know, hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake here, including record royalties and jackson's share, of course, of the well-known beetles catalog. >> randi kaye covering a lot. thank you so much. ted rowlands as well. >>> let's go to the criminal side of things. jeffrey toobin and lisa bloom join us now. jeff, yesterday you said you didn't think -- it was too early to talk about manslaughter in connection to dr. murray. now they've raided his las vegas office and his home. who what do you think? >> they are obviously engaged in a very serious criminal investigation of him. he is a target. i don't know if he is a target in the legal sense, but certainly in the sense you or i would use.

mr. michael jackson's death. >> you have doctors who allegedly overprescribed or abused -- >> jackson family confidant, i understand that while katherineackson says she's not contesting the will, she is in fact planning to contest terms of the will specifically who the executors will be. >> when an executor is challenged for things like a conflict of interest or not having the best interest of an estate in their business practices, that's not a challenge of the terms of the will. there's no disputing the executor was named in the will so you're not challenging the will. what you're saying is that in an interim period of time, an executor has executed a conflict of interest. being very cautious and this is the way she should do it. >> oxman says she's not contesting the will but contesting a term of the will. >> not a term. no. it's not a term of the will. it's saying in the interim period that a conflict has developed and it does not challenge the terms of the will. >> i heard you the first time. out to dorian holly, vocal director that worked with jackson for 22 years. saw him the night before that last rehearsal. thank you for being

katherine jackson's lawyer saying the will is not notarized, but my source told me, quote, it's not a requirement or custom in california to notarize a will. so here's the question. is mrs. jackson's lawyer subjecting the will doesn't hold up? because he's the same guy that said he's not challenging the will, so we seem to be getting mixed signals from the same person. from what my sources say, mrs. jackson really wants just a seat at the table. she wants some control and some money. but the way it breaks down already, anderson, jackson's kids get 40% of the estate and katherine jackson's mother will get another 20%, and the rest to charity. >> randi kaye, thank you very much. >>> we're also hearing tonight from joe jackson interviewed on news one channel, he said quite a few controversial things since his son's death, in addition to promoting his new record venture, but this is one of them. cnn has not been able to confirm a word of what mr. jackson says. not a surprise. with that in mind, listen to what he's saying about the long-rumored michael jackson love child. >> michael may have had another child, omar is his name? and then there was -- he was sitting right ther

mrs. jackson really wants just a seat at the table. she wants some control and some money, but the way it breaks down all right, anderson, jackson's kids get 40% of the estate and katherine jackson, his mother, will get another 20%, and the rest to charity. so this has people asking, what more does katherine jackson want? >> randi kaye, thank you very much. and tomorrow night, the chef's will appear on "larry king li live." >>> we're also hearing tonight from joe jackson interviewed on news one channel, he said quite a few controversial things since his son's death, in addition to promoting his new record venture, but this is one of them. cnn has not been able to confirm a word of what mr. jackson says. not a surprise. with that in mind, listen to what he's saying about the long-rumored michael jackson love child. >> michael may have had another child, omar is his name? and then there was -- he was sitting right there next to reebie, and everyone's trying to connect some doubts. do you know that as michael's other son? >> yes, i knew he had another son. yes, i did. >> and he looks like a jackson? >> oh, yes, he looks like a jackson, he acts like a jackson. he can dance l

katherine claims now that michael's gone, so is the cash. other than extremely modest social security benefits, mrs. jacksonindependent means of support, the papers say. there is an urgent need to pay a family allowance for the benefit of the minor children. >> they use the word urgent. they went in for ex parte, which means right then and there, no hearing. and that kind of suggests that the till is dry. >> reporter: but the judge denied the motion. katherine jackson won't get a dime yet. pending a hearing. >> michael jackson owns a home that his parents lived in. several members of his family have been in his employ over the years, and it's certainly, you know, one would assume that financial relationships between michael and members of his family were pretty deep. >> reporter: to help, the executors of his estate are working on a new publishing deal to reprint jackson's 1988 autobiography "moon walk." aeg, the concert promoters, are looking to make some money back, too. msnbc.com reports they just sold the rights of michael's final rehearsals, and have scrapped next month's tribute concert in london. as

. >>> and that custody agreement between katherine jackson and debbie rowe will be finalized on monday. mrson will keep the kids. but debbie rowe will play a greater role than he has before. joining us next, is a child psychologist who specializes in custody issues. he is with nyu. good to see you. >> good morning. >> this is a highly unusual situation. and debbie rowe, she kept herself away from the children for about the last ten years. and now, she will have a greater role in their lives. how do you go about reintroducing a parent to children? >> you have to go slowly. you have to figure out what the kids want and what debbie rowe wants. and once you figure out what the party's goals are, you have to get a plan to achieve those goals. they've got to go slowly. they have to do activities. there shouldn't be deep discussions early on. they have to get to know each other a little bit. >> i want to play something that debbie rowe said in 2003, about her relationship with her children. >> my kids don't call me mom because i don't want them to. they're not -- they're michael's children. it's n

katherine jackson and debbie rowe? is that something that's currently on the table? >> what's best for the children is what michael wanted and what has been happening. mrs. jackson to have custody of these children and we expect to be making an announcement very shortly and i want to also just compliment again those people that have been involved in the process. because not withstanding the media projection of what has gone on behind the scenes, this has been very thoughtful and very prudent. >> you're being very careful with good reason. can you just tell me, londell, has done by rowe expressed any desire to have contact with those children, whether it is a custody situation or not, even contact with those children down the road? >> matt, we'll be making an announcement very soon. >> okay, gotcha on that. let me ask you about some rumors that have been swirling. you can knock these down or help me out on any of these you can real quickly. have the kids expressed any wish or desire to live with janet jackson? >> i don't have any information concerning that. >> there was a rumor in the last couple of weeks, londell, that diana ross was somehow involved in

mrs. jackson, and they're saying she has custody rights, can she come back in and try to take those kids? >> jim moret, let's hit a couple -- both those there. if -- i mean, if katherine jackson were to pass away, diana ross is next in line the way we understand things, right? not debbie rowe. >> that's according to the will. and we don't know if the will has been deemed valid yet. that will occur presumably on monday or at a later date. the judge is going to first look at that on monday. but she is next in line according to the will. however, there's nothing that indicates that a chain of custody is in place. meaning if something happened to katherine jackson it's possible that you could end up back in court once again and debbie rowe could reassert these rights whatever they may and be say you know what, now i want custody. it's not clear really, and i don't know that it will be made clear publicly. >> okay. >> and that's why also i think she is retaining these rights, so that if there is a chance to come forward later, and it really brings home the point for all of us. it is so important for you to make clear about how you want your children raised if anything happ

katherine jackson and the kids? >> yeah. i was -- they asked me, you know, they asked me if i'd come and assist with the children. mr.kson encouraged me very much to write a cookbook. write a cookbook. we were going to maybe put it out after the tour. >> if you do do it, will you come back? >> i will. >> kai chase. thank you very much. >> all righty, thank you. >> and a little bit wild, she's a little bit country, he's a little bit rock 'n' roll. together probably the most famous brother and sister act. we are going to hear from donny and marie. up next, natalie sits down, the one, the only miss divine miss m. right after these messages. there's no fiber in this. it tastes too good. there is fiber. (chuckle) no. i can't taste the fiber. just chocolate. they have 35% of your daily value. hmm. oh samples. hmm. autobahn. wackenschdol. fiber one chewy bars. cardboard no. delicious yes. new dove heat defense therapy mist... helps protect your hair... from damage caused by daily heat styling. protect your hair... with new dove heat defense therapy. expertise for damaged hair. in 1972. ♪ more than thirty years later, not mu

jackson family and joins us from atlanta this morning. good morning, mr. rowe. >> good morning. >> i know you spoke with katherine and janet after dr.ray's office was raided yesterday. what did they have to say? >> they didn't have too much to say about it. they were just hoping that they can get to the bottom of what happened to their son and brother. >> do they have any theorys about the extent of dr. murray's involvement in michael jackson's death or do you, as a longtime friend? >> well, let me say this. from knowing michael jackson as i know him, i know one thing, that there would be no doctor in michael jackson's presence, in his home or elsewhere, that would not do what michael jackson wanted done. so by him having access to michael jackson, it's alarming to me because, when a doctor is with michael jackson in his surroundings and in his midst, he would have to do what michael jackson want done. >> was that your experience over the years? is that something that michael jackson said to you was important? >> no, he never said it to me, but i know michael jackson, and i know he wouldn't have a doctor around with him if that doct

katherine jackson will remain the sole guardian of her son's three children. debbie rowe, the biological mother of the two eldest, will receive visitation rights. attorneys for mrsn says they are pleased this matter is resolved and was handled in a caring, thoughtful, and courteous manner. >>> and britain's highest court has ruled in favor of a woman's fight in how she chooses to die. debby purdy has multiple sclerosis and wants to have her husband by her side if she decides to have an assisted suicide. she spent years challenging an ambiguous law that didn't make it clear if her husband would be prosecuted for helping her. >>> and former atlanta falcons quarterback, michael vick, claims that he's close to signing with a football team. vick made the comment to reporters as he left a courtroom after a hearing in his bankruptcy case. he didn't elaborate. vick was conditionally reinstated by the nfl this week with after serving a sentence for running a dogfighting ring. wolf? >> fred, thank you. >>> it's a race against time and a dangerous flu. and right now the u.s. government apparently isn't winning. we've been hearing warning after warning about a second wave o

katherine jackson and debbie rowe? is that something that's currently on the table? >> what's best for the children is what michael wanted and what has been happening, for mrs. jackson to have custody of these children. we expect to make an announcement very shortly. >> reporter: but still, no announcement yet. as we wait for a custody deal, we actually have some fascinating new details about michael jackson's final days. a law enforcement official now tells the ap, his mansion, the one you're looking at right now, was a mess. jackson's bedroom was so hot, it was actually stifling and no one who works in the house is allowed to lower the heat or clean it up. there were 20 handwritten notes stuck on the walls. one of them read, children are sweet and innocent. and a porcelain doll, a girl, was in the bed where he slept. the mystery of michael jackson's life continues to unravel. >> jeff rossen, thank you very much. dan abrams is nbc news' chief legal analyst. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> let's look at the case building up against dr. murray. according to the search warrant investigators are looking for, quoting here, evidence of the offense of man