Melanie Martin, the former fiancée of the late singer Aaron Carter, has secured a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of their son, Princeton Lyric Carter.
Martin launched the suit in October 2023, targeting medical professionals, mental health providers, and pharmacies. The claims allege these parties prescribed dangerous medications like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and alprazolam without proper justification, ignoring Carter’s deteriorating mental health.
Settlement Details
Court filings reveal that a psychiatrist and a mental health clinic among the defendants agreed to a confidential settlement in April. Remaining defendants, including a Santa Monica dentist, a local pharmacy, and Walgreens, have not settled.
The lawsuit argues that prescribers and pharmacies overlooked red flags in Carter’s prescriptions, including excessive quantities of addictive drugs.
Cause of Death
Carter, 34, was discovered deceased in his bathtub at his Los Angeles home on November 5, 2022. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death an accidental drowning, linked to alprazolam (Xanax) and inhaled difluoroethane.
Ongoing Estate Battle
This development follows a court ruling favoring Martin in a dispute with Carter’s mother, Jane Carter Schneck, over the estate. In March, Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui declared the estate insolvent and ordered non-cash assets distributed to Martin, mother of four-year-old Princeton “Prince” Lyric Carter.
Schneck had objected, accusing Martin of withdrawing $24,530 from Carter’s accounts shortly after his death, starting November 7, 2022. She also claimed the estate administrator, Aileen B. Federizo, showed bias by rejecting Schneck’s $30,000 offer for Carter’s publicity rights.
Despite allegations of financial improprieties, Schneck stated she believes Martin is a good mother to Prince, meets his needs, and wishes no legal harm. Schneck accepted partial blame for their strained relationship.
Previously, Schneck and Carter’s father, Robert, managed his career until Carter sought emancipation in his teens, alleging unauthorized withdrawals exceeding $100,000. The family later resolved the issues amicably after their 2004 divorce.
