A family dispute has erupted over the care of Samuel Monroe Jr., the actor best known for ‘Menace II Society,’ who has been hospitalized in Los Angeles for months. His mother, Joyce Patton, has filed a petition to establish a conservatorship, questioning whether the woman claiming to be his wife is legally married to him.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Patton claims her son has not lived with Shawna Stewart in more than 15 years. She says Monroe Jr. has been living with her for the past four years. The filing also alleges Stewart has been collecting money from a GoFundMe set up for his medical bills, as well as receiving his film residuals.
Stewart, who says she is Monroe Jr.’s wife and the mother of his two children, pushed back against the conservatorship effort. She told TMZ, ‘Well, we will be fighting in court then. Everything will come out.’ She insists Monroe Jr. made it clear he wanted her, not his mother, to handle his medical and financial decisions. She also accused Patton of being motivated by money rather than her son’s care.
The dispute also touches on the couple’s history. Patton has claimed the two have been separated for years. Stewart acknowledges they have had an on-and-off relationship but says they lived together during portions of that time. Asked to provide proof of their marriage, Stewart declined, telling TMZ that Patton ‘is in for a surprise.’
The case has moved into the probate process. An attorney has been appointed to represent Monroe Jr.’s interests, and a judge has ordered his medical records released to a probate investigator. If granted, the conservatorship would give a court-appointed person authority over some or all of his personal, medical, or financial affairs.
Monroe Jr. was hospitalized in April after a severe case of meningitis that Stewart says went undiagnosed for months. The infection spread to his spine and brain. He later developed MRSA pneumonia and required life support, dialysis, multiple blood transfusions, and several brain surgeries. At one point his condition seemed to improve, with his kidneys recovering enough to stop dialysis and he was able to breathe without a ventilator for several hours. But by August, Stewart said he was again in a medically induced coma, suffering from seizures and brain swelling, with doctors warning he could remain in a vegetative state.
Monroe Jr.’s credits also include ‘Set It Off,’ ‘Tales from the Hood,’ and ‘The Players Club.’ His prolonged hospitalization has left his family navigating both emotional and legal turmoil.
