The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin was appointed to manage her late brother Geoffrey Stirling Jr.’s estate months after police fatally shot him, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
On September 10, McLaughlin, 44, filed a petition to be named the estate administrator. Stirling died on April 17 at age 45 during a traffic stop in Newport Beach, California. He was single and did not have any children.
TMZ reported Stirling was driving on a motorcycle when an officer pulled him over. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that Stirling was “uncooperative” which led to him being fatally shot. No officers were injured in the incident.
In her filing, McLaughlin said her brother left behind personal property worth an estimated $800,000. The listed beneficiaries of Stirling’s estate as McLaughlin, their father, Geoff Stirling Sr., and brother Jesse Stirling.
McLaughlin said she expects the estate is solvent. She said her brother “owned his vehicles outright and consistently paid his monthly credit card bills in full.”
Geoff Sr. and Jesse nominated McLaughlin to be the estate representative.
McLaughlin taking over the estate comes as the family plans to sue the police they feel are liable for Geoffrey Jr.’s death.
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In May, attorney James S. Terrell, who is representing the family, told Us they were looking into their legal options regarding claims against the city of Newport Beach, the city’s police department and the officer who shot Geoffrey Jr.
“All the family wants is to find out what happened to their brother and their son,” Terrell told Us. “Next thing they want to see is if they can get justice for him and not just for him but for everyone like him and pulled over in a similar situation.”
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The Newport Beach Police Department released footage of the incident with Geoffrey Jr. on May 7. One officer claimed Geoffrey Jr. was shot after he “struck [an] officer several times in the head and then removed the officer’s taser from his duty belt.”
After viewing the footage, Terrell asked, “[The officer] already had backup coming to him, [so] why did he go aggressively on him?”
He continued, “Escalating it and charging him is not using his skills and tools he’s trained to do. He had help coming; he didn’t need to attack him. There are so many things he could have done.” McLaughlin’s lawyer said the police could have easily tased Geoffrey Jr. instead of pulling the trigger.
The family has yet to file an official lawsuit.
Two days after his death, McLaughlin posted a tribute to her brother on social media.
Lydia McLaughlin’s Brother Geoffrey Laid to Rest After ‘Devastating’ Death
She wrote alongside a photo of Stirling, “My family has experienced an unimaginable loss. My brother, Geoff Jr., was tragically taken and our hearts are shattered. This was the song he turned to after we lost our mom. He’d cry every time. I can’t believe we’re facing this pain just 6 months after losing my best friend and mother. I know they’re both with Jesus now, and He’s walking with me through this darkness. One step at a time.”
On May 5, the former Bravo star revealed they had laid her brother to rest. “Just six months ago, we stood in this same place, grieving the loss of my mom. My heart is broken, and the shock still hasn’t settled,” she wrote.
