Daughter can stop food for Casey Kasem, judge says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A judge has reversed his ruling, giving Casey Kasem's daughter the authority to withhold food and fluids from her ailing father.

Kasem's wife, Jean, stormed out of court Wednesday afternoon after hearing judge Daniel Murphy's decision. The proceeding was an emergency hearing during which the judge reviewed additional medical records provided by Kerri Kasem's attorney.

"It's wrong. The courts are wrong. I'm going to hold everybody accountable and responsible because they all have blood on their hands," said Jean Kasem. "He's killed an American treasure. I hope that he feels good and he can sleep good tonight, because if you Google his name and you see the court cases that he's been involved in, this is not the first life that he's shredded."

Murphy ruled that her ailing 82-year-old husband should not be given food, medicine or water because it would be "acutely harmful for nutrition and hydration to be restored."

"The judge today found that Mrs. Kasem's actions have not been in the interest of Mr. Kasem, found that Kerri's actions have been in Mr. Kasem's interests and that Mr. Kasem clearly expressed his desire to die very peacefully and comfortably in this manner," said Troy Martin, attorney for Kerri Kasem.

This is the latest chapter in a long-running family feud over Kasem's care. Jean Kasem and her daughter, Liberty, are battling against the radio legend's daughters from his previous marriage. Kerri Kasem was named temporary conservator of her father and began implementing end-of-life measures last Friday.

On Monday, Murphy ordered the reinstatement of feeding and other care while a court-appointed attorney consulted with Casey Kasem and doctors. That ruling was reversed Wednesday.

In a statement, Casey Kasem's daughters said, "The court's decision today upheld our father's explicit wishes as expressed by him in his health directive...transitioning our father's treatment to comfort-oriented care was one of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make."

Jean Kasem's attorney says Murphy's ruling wasn't based on sworn declarations from doctors and relied on an outdated document in which Casey Kasem said he didn't want to receive food or fluids if he was incapacitated. As of last week, Kasem still had the ability to communicate nonverbally, the lawyer said.

Meantime, Jean Kasem claims her husband's daughters want his money.

"There's a $2 million life insurance policy...This is purely about vengeance and money. I want everybody to know," said Jean Kasem.

Kerri Kasem and her siblings said they have repeatedly invited their stepmother to join them at the hospital for Casey Kasem's final moments. The 82-year-old is in hospice care, suffering from a form a dementia. The former "American Top 40" host has not received food or fluids since Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.