THE long-running legal saga involving Serena and Venus Williams’ 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood home will come to an end in a week as their father enters a surprising new life chapter.
His $1.4 million home will be sold to the highest bidder to pay off the half-million debt racked up by their stepmom, Lakeisha Williams.
Richard Williams is believed to be back in a relationship with his wife LakeishaCredit: Getty
Lakeisha Williams’ lawyer claims they are starting a new chapter and in a romantic and 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual unionCredit: Facebook
Lakeisha and Richard Williams have ended their seven-year-long feudCredit: instagram/keisha.dylan.williams
The crumbling Florida home has been at the center of the couple’s legal battleCredit: The U.S. Sun
The U.S. Sun has been reporting on the case for more than a year after the former ᵴtriƥper allegedly stole the Florida house right from under Richard’s nose.
When the frail 82-year-old found out his much younger wife, 45, changed the title deeds into her name without his knowledge, he filed for divorce.
But seven years later, he backtracked.
The seven-year drama appears to be coming to an end with the most unlikely of outcomes – a romantic reunion between Lakeisha and Richard.
They are already in a romantic and 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual relationship, according to her lawyer.
If this is the case, then they are doing it behind the back of his son Chavoita LesSane, who is adamant that his father is being taken advantage of.
On July 18, the day of the auction, Lakeisha will be without a home and, if it’s believed they are back together, she’ll be living with Richard in his new home just a few miles away in Palm Beach Gardens.
Ironically – considering Lakeisha is losing the home that’s been in the Williams family since Serena was 14 – this new property is owned by Serena herself.
She had to act after her dad filed for divorce and needed to get out of the house that he no longer owned.
SON’S CLAIMS
Lakeisha replicated his signature to sign over the four-bed mansion into her name – and then she borrowed $279,000 using the house as collateral from hard lender David Simon to blow the lot on a disastrous trucking business and “fast food and frivolities.”
This rose to nearly $620,000 at one stage, including legal fees and interest, after Simon sued to get his money back.
It now sits at $436,113, with the proceeds from the house sale paying him and her other 20-plus creditors off.
This was allegedly not her first misdemeanor, but took advantage of the legendary tennis coach’s state to fake his signature to sell his cars and cash his social security checks, according to Chavoita.
Time is sadly not on Richard’s side after three strokes, the onset of dementia, and memory loss, according to court documents and family sources.
They met at a tennis tournament while she was working as a dancer called “Angel” and have a son, Dylan, now 12.
But it appears Lakeisha is having the last laugh, and Richard is sticking by her.
A furious Chavoita has been threatening an elder abuse lawsuit for over a year.
He claims Richard didn’t go through with the divorce as he wasn’t fit to continue the battle and will refile at a later date.
He told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview, “I can’t remember how long it was into the relationship as far as my dad starting to have financial headaches, like, ‘What’s going on with my social security checks?’
“Lakeisha took the Mercedes, she took the bus, she took money, what else was it? The motorcycle.
“There are so many things that she stole or forged documents for him. That’s considered elder abuse.
“We’re just putting all of it together, it’s a lot. This whole situation has been frustrating.”
Despite Chavoita’s protestations, it appears that they’ll be a couple again in a home paid for by Serena, who dished out $815,000 for the one-story property in June 2015.
The place has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and over 4,160 square feet of living space.
It’s 16 miles away from the house where he taught Serena and Venus on two tennis courts, which are still there to this day.
Meanwhile, a new documentary could reveal more about Serena’s 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood being taught by her father, who was determined to turn his girls into sporting superstars.
In the Arena: Serena Williams is a new eight-part TV docuseries that will focus on the tennis star’s pro career and life after retirement, according to reports.
The first installment aired on Wednesday, July 10 on ESPN+, and the following episodes will drop every Wednesday at 9 pm Pacific until the season finale on August 28.
Richard Williams was in a legal battle over the home he shared with his wifeCredit: SWNS
Serena Williams at The 2024 ESPY Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on July 11Credit: Getty
The sporting legend has a new documentary out revealing more about her life after retiring from tennisCredit: Getty
