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Kinkade's Wife, Girlfriend End Fight With Secret Deal

No details on settlement between Nanette Kinkade, Amy Pinto

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 20, 2012 12:04 PM CST

(Newser) – And just like that, the drama surrounding Thomas Kinkade's estate has come to an end. Kinkade's estranged wife, Nanette, has settled with Amy Pinto, Kinkade's girlfriend who had been living with him and refused to leave his house after he died. There are no details about who gets what, but the San Jose Mercury News has this surprisingly pleasant joint statement: "Putting Mr. Kinkade's message of love, spirituality, and optimism at the forefront, the parties are pleased that they have honored Mr. Kinkade by resolving their differences amicably."

Pinto had produced two hardly-legible wills that, she claimed, Kinkade wrote a few months before his death, leaving her his mansion and $10 million. Her lawyers also interpreted the notes to mean that Pinto would also get $66 million worth of his paintings, as Kinkade wanted her to use the $10 million to set up a museum of his art. Pinto had promised to reveal her and Kinkade's story, insisting she was not a gold-digger but his true love, but now she has agreed to be silent as part of the settlement.

Amy Pinto-Walsh, girlfriend of artist Thomas Kinkade, leaves a San Jose, Calif., courthouse in San Jose, Calif., Monday, July 2, 2012.
Amy Pinto-Walsh, girlfriend of artist Thomas Kinkade, leaves a San Jose, Calif., courthouse in San Jose, Calif., Monday, July 2, 2012.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
In this Sept. 15, 2006 file photo, artist Thomas Kinkade unveils his painting, Prayer For Peace, at the opening of the exhibit From Abraham to Jesus, in Atlanta.
In this Sept. 15, 2006 file photo, artist Thomas Kinkade unveils his painting, "Prayer For Peace," at the opening of the exhibit "From Abraham to Jesus," in Atlanta.   (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Marelicia
Dec 25, 2012 3:58 AM CST
"Pinto had produced two hardly-legible wills that, she claimed, Kinkade wrote a few months before his death, leaving her his mansion and $10 million. Her lawyers also interpreted the notes to mean that Pinto would also get $66 million worth of his paintings, as Kinkade wanted her to use the $10 million to set up a museum of his art." The TWO Wills are invalid on their faces.  Thomas Kinkade was most likely drunk or strung out on drugs and alcohol, when he allegedly scribbled TWO hardly-legible Wills that Pinto said he had written a few months before his death and Witnessed by Pinto only.  By law, an incapacitated person can not legally make a contract or Will.  What are the odds that my filthy rich live-in boyfriend suddenly dies in my presence, and I am the sole named-beneficiary of not ONE but TWO newly created and scribbled Wills.  Pinto is highly suspect and may be a murderer.  TK's death should have been fully investigated and Homicide ruled out before his Will was allowed to be Probated.  It seems that Pinto should have been in criminal court fighting a premeditated murder charge, not in civil court or probate court fighting TK's wife over his estate.....Really.  Mrs. Kinkade should have never settled with Pinto.
NobodyKnows
Dec 20, 2012 2:38 PM CST
I don't know about spirituality but, with a wife and a live-in girlfriend, he seems to have had more than enough love to spread around. If I weren't such an optimist myself, I'd suspect a touch of blackmail mixed up in there somewhere, although I can't see what anyone would have left to hide after all the publicity.
NYUFan
Dec 20, 2012 2:02 PM CST
Putting Mr. Kinkade's message of love, spirituality, and optimism... ************************************************ Sadly, he died because of his addiction to the tobacco drug.
 

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