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When later asked why they had never married, Wilson told the court that Conkright had been concerned about losing federal benefits. There were already disagreements within the family. Hart, Wilson, and another of Conkright’s daughters, Barbara Davis, were involved in a dispute over her care and access to her. A court subsequently restricted Wilson’s and Davis’s hospital visits to a few hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Hart retained responsibility for medical decisions. Despite these circumstances, Wilson decided to marry Conkright. The couple had been romantically involved for approximately three decades and had lived together at different times. However, her death did not end the disagreement. Hart, who became administrator of her mother’s estate, went to court to challenge the marriage. She argued that Conkright had not been capable of giving informed consent and raised concerns about pressure surrounding the wedding.
Victor Allen Wilson and Betty Sue Conkright had been together for nearly 30 years before marrying on August 24, 2023.
She said Conkright sometimes struggled to recognise people, had difficulty communicating and did not always know where she was. He told the court that his mother sometimes failed to recognise him, including on the day of the wedding. After Conkright died, her daughter challenged the marriage, questioning both her mother’s ability to consent and the way the marriage license was obtained. The court heard different accounts of Conkright’s condition. Hart described her mother as confused during her hospital stay. Hart maintained that the confusion continued Although there were occasions when she appeared more alert. Conkright’s son Robert supported those concerns. Neither he nor Hart had attended the ceremony, although both were at the hospital that day.
On Friday, the Kentucky Court of Appeals overturned an earlier ruling that had invalidated the marriage and sent the case back for further examination.