A hard-fought $11.25 million settlement between the City of Fort Worth and the estate of Atatiana Jefferson is facing a new and unexpected legal hurdle, as a separate family estate steps forward with allegations of fraud tied to the probate proceedings.
The estate of Marquis Jefferson, who died just 28 days after Atatiana was fatally shot inside her mother’s Fort Worth home by a police officer later convicted of manslaughter, is now calling on the Tarrant County District Attorney to launch a criminal fraud investigation into the case.
Noella Jefferson, the 75-year-old widow of Marquis Jefferson, spoke outside the Tarrant County Courthouse Thursday and insisted the push is not financially motivated. “It’s about justice. It’s about honor. It’s about fairness and right-doing” she said.
Estate spokesperson Bruce Carter argued that Marquis Jefferson served as a father figure to Atatiana from birth, appearing on her birth certificate and paying child support. Carter claims the family was shut out of settlement talks entirely and pointed to court documents referencing Atatiana under the name “Atatiana Carr” as evidence of fraud upon the court.
Carter acknowledged that Marquis Jefferson learned in 2001 he was not Atatiana’s biological father when he sought full custody. Despite that, the estate contends his role in her life should carry legal weight in the proceedings.
Attorneys representing Jerome Eschor, identified as Atatiana’s biological father who lives in Nigeria, pushed back firmly against the allegations. Attorney Tanika Solomon called the claims “disrespectful and unfounded” and described the effort as an attempt to extract money from a grieving family’s tragedy. Solomon stated that Noella and Marquis Jefferson were not excluded from anything related to the case.
The City of Fort Worth released a statement clarifying that it negotiated the settlement with the administrator appointed by the Tarrant County Probate Court and that the probate court holds authority over all heirship determinations. The city confirmed no settlement funds have been disbursed and that final approval remains with the probate court.
Atatiana Jefferson was killed in October 2019 when former Fort Worth officer Aaron Dean fired through a window of her home during a welfare check. Dean was convicted of manslaughter and his subsequent appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The settlement, if approved, would represent one of the largest law enforcement-related civil payouts in Tarrant County history. The probate court will ultimately decide whether the fraud allegations have any bearing on how the case moves forward.