Cobb's heirs sold it in 1980 for $200,000 to Beverly Hills jeweler Peter Hoffman, who in turn sold part ownership to Barbish.
The two men formed the now-defunct World's Largest Pearl Co. Inc. in California and raised money by selling interests in the pearl to investors including Joe Bonicelli.
This is where the history turns bloody.
The pearl is now part of the largest wrongful-death judgment in Colorado history after a jury recently awarded $32.4 million to Bonicelli's adult children, who sued over the 1975 death of their mother in a contract killing.
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This doesn't track.
If Bonicelli didn't get involved until 1980, how could the owners be involved in a contract killing of his mother in 1975??
Kinda makes one say Huh?
OK, I'll take a stab at it.
Time appears linear to us. However, if seen from another vantage point, time may be non-linear. 1980 happened before 1975 for these people.
Author slowly removes tinfoil and grins!
Poorly written article. The contract was by the father on the mother. The father left his estate to his daughter by his second wife. The kids sued their father's estate (wrongful death) r.e. their step sister and won the suit. The estate consists of part ownership of the gem of a now defunct company.
Lawyers ....
My question is who is Phillips and where is the second contract killing ... I say again, poorly written article.