Serena and Venus Williams' dad files for divorce from younger wife
Richard Williams, tennis champs Serena and Venus Williams' 75-year-old father, has filed for divorce from his much younger wife in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In his petition, the 75-year-old tennis coach often credited for training his daughters in their younger years and laying the foundations that eventually made them into tennis superstars, believes his 38-year-old wife of seven years, Lakeisha Williams, is an alcoholic.
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He also claims she is stealing his social security checks and transferred ownership of their cars and a house to herself by forging his signature.
Williams, who married Lakeisha in 2010, also claims she moved out last year and left their now 5-year-old son, Dylan, in his exclusive care. Lakeisha is barely older than his two two daughters - Serena is 35 and Venus will turn 37 on Saturday.
Richard Williams also alleges she left him for 'a new person' who has 'serious criminal, felony charges pending who could impose a danger to the minor child,' the document reads.
When reached on her cellphone, Lakeisha said she couldn't talk and hung up.
But Sandy Becher, her Miami lawyer, called Richard's petition 'outrageous.'
'We categorically deny each and all the allegations he has made in the petition,' Becher said. 'When the issues come before the court, they'll be proven to be patently false.'DailyMail.com called Serena and a woman claiming to be one of her assistants picked up her cell phone and promised to leave a message for Serena to comment.
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DailyMail.com called Serena and a woman claiming to be one of her assistants picked up her cell phone and promised to leave a message for Serena to comment.Richard is currently overseas and didn't return calls for comment and neither did his lawyer, Reginald Sessions.
Richard is currently overseas and didn't return calls for comment and neither did his lawyer, Reginald Sessions.The divorce petition, however, alleges plenty about his relationship with Lakeisha, and includes an unusually graphic litany of complaints against Lakeisha, a nurse's assistant by trade.
The divorce petition, however, alleges plenty about his relationship with Lakeisha, and includes an unusually graphic litany of complaints against Lakeisha, a nurse's assistant by trade.In asking the judge for a parenting plan, court papers allege: 'The husband is concerned that the wife is addicted to alcohol.'
In asking the judge for a parenting plan, court papers allege: 'The husband is concerned that the wife is addicted to alcohol.'
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The petition also accuses Lakeisha of failing to keep a schedule, picking up Dylan after his bed time then returning him to Richard in the middle of the night.The document adds she allegedly lives with an unsavory character in an atmosphere that's not conducive to raising a child.
The document adds she allegedly lives with an unsavory character in an atmosphere that's not conducive to raising a child.Richard says this wife abandoned the marital home in August 2016 and left Dylan in his care.
Richard says this wife abandoned the marital home in August 2016 and left Dylan in his care.Since then, he claims, Lakeisha ripped him off in several ways. She transferred the deed of one of his homes to herself by forging his signature, and then took out a $152,000-mortgage on it after, again, imitating his writing.
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Richard divorced Oracene Price, above with Serena (left) and Venus in 2002 after a police report with allegations of domestic abuse popped up in Florida. Oracene suffered three broken ribs but Richard was never charged criminally in connection with alleged crimes.
Since then, he claims, Lakeisha ripped him off in several ways. She transferred the deed of one of his homes to herself by forging his signature, and then took out a $152,000-mortgage on it after, again, imitating his writing.Actually, Richard has filed a separate lawsuit against her to reclaim the West Palm Beach house, which he says he bought with ex-wife Oracene Price in 1995.
Actually, Richard has filed a separate lawsuit against her to reclaim the West Palm Beach house, which he says he bought with ex-wife Oracene Price in 1995.
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Lakeisha allegedly transferred the titles of multiple cars to herself, took money out of their joint bank accounts and accounts he owned alone, and took some of his social security payments.Until recently, Richard Williams and his young family were permanent fixture courtside whenever Serena, who's pregnant with her first child, and Venus played in big tournaments in London, Paris and Melbourne.
Until recently, Richard Williams and his young family were permanent fixture courtside whenever Serena, who's pregnant with her first child, and Venus played in big tournaments in London, Paris and Melbourne.Richard divorced Oracene Price, Serena and Venus' mother, in 2002 after a police report with allegations of domestic abuse popped up in Florida, where the entire clan lives.
Richard divorced Oracene Price, Serena and Venus' mother, in 2002 after a police report with allegations of domestic abuse popped up in Florida, where the entire clan lives.
Oracene suffered three broken ribs but Richard was never charged criminally in connection with alleged crimes.At first, Oracene watched her daughters play in seats far away from Richard but more recently has been spotted in the same luxury boxes as Richard and Lakeisha.
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At first, Oracene watched her daughters play in seats far away from Richard but more recently has been spotted in the same luxury boxes as Richard and Lakeisha.
In 2011, Venus and Serena refused to cooperate with the maker of a documentary about their lives when they realised it portrayed Richard as a controlling presence who had a number of extramarital affairs.