Police raids and pay-offs that dogged star
THE shocking claims in Leaving Neverland are the latest in a long list of child sex allegations against Michael Jackson, who died aged 50 in June 2009. August 1993:
Sheriff’s deputies raid Neverland after the singer is accused of child molestation by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. No criminal charges are filed.
January 1994:
Jackson settles with Jordan and his family in an out-of-court deal reportedly in excess of $20million (£15million).
May 1994:
He marries first wife Lisa Marie Presley. They divorce in 1996.
November 1996:
He marries second wife Debbie Rowe, a nurse in his dermatologist’s office who gives birth to their son Michael in February 1997 and daughter Paris in April 1998 before she and Jackson divorce in October 1999.
August 2000:
Cancer patient
Gavin Arvizo makes his first trip to Neverland with his family at the age of eight. He and his brother sleep in Jackson’s bed while the singer sleeps on the floor.
Late 2002 / Early 2003:
Gavin makes one of many return visits, while British TV journalist Martin Bashir is filming his explosive documentary Living With Michael Jackson.
February 2003:
The documentary airs in Britain on ITV and in America on ABC, sending shock waves around the world after Jackson admits to sharing his bed with “many children” but never for sex.
BEST FRIENDS: Jackson with Macaulay Culkin March 2003:
Home Alone child star Macaulay Culkin admits he and his brother have shared Jackson’s bed “many times”, but describes the singer as his “best friend” and says he has never tried to touch him.
A grand jury issues further charges against him, based on police evidence.
He checks into hospital with severe back pain as the jury begins deliberation.
June 2005:
Jackson is sensationally acquitted on all seven counts of child molestation and two further counts of administering an intoxication agent to a minor.
June 2009:
He dies from an overdose of hospital anaesthetic Propofol, administered by his personal physician Dr Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter, serving two years of a four-year sentence.
May 2013:
Choreographer Wade Robson now claims on TV that Jackson molested him for seven years from the age of seven.
August 2014:
Dancer James Safechuck alleges that Jackson molested him “almost 100 times” over a four-year period until he hit puberty in court papers filed against the late singer’s estate.
December 2017:
A judge dismisses Robson and Safechuck’s lawsuits, saying they were filed “too late” for Jackson’s estate to be held liable.
January 2019:
The explosive documentary Leaving Neverland premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.