Vanessa Bryant is suing the L.A. County Sheriff and his department after deputies reportedly took photos of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's bodies at the helicopter crash site in January.
In the lawsuit, Vanessa claims, 'No fewer than 8 sheriff's deputies at the crash site pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches. The deputies took these photos for their own personal gratification.'
The widow is claiming the photos and their distribution among officers caused her emotional distress, as she says the pictures were the subject of conversation that had no investigative purpose.
Vanessa is suing Sheriff Alex Villanueva, alleging he tried to cover it up by telling deputies they would not face repercussions if they deleted the photos and she is now is fearful the photos will leak.
'Ms. Bryant feels ill at the thought of strangers gawking at images of her deceased husband and child, and she lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online,' the suit states.
Vanessa Bryant is suing the L.A. County Sheriff and his department after deputies took photos of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's bodies at the crash site
Vanessa is suing Sheriff Alex Villanueva, alleging he tried to cover it up by telling deputies they would not face repercussions if they deleted the photos
She claims in the lawsuit that at least eight deputies took photos on their cell phones 'for their own personal gratification'
The lawsuit also reveals the photos were exposed when a deputy at the bar showed a woman the photos in an effort to impress her.
The bartender reportedly overheard the conversation and reported it, exposing the sheriff's department.
The lawsuit also claims Villanueva's attempt to cover up the photos was destruction of evidence. Vanessa says Villanueva never even told the families about the photos and they only learned about it through the media.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages.
This comes as Vanessa is already dealing with emotional distress due to her mother Sofia Lane's shocking TV interview where she claimed her daughter had kicked her out of the house.
In a statement to the Spanish language show 'El Gordo y La Flaca' on Univision, Vanessa called her mother's actions 'more than painful' and revealed she and Kobe have financially supported her for two decades.
The lawsuit states that Vanessa 'lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online'
'My husband and daughter passed away unexpectedly and yet my mother had the audacity to do a television interview talking negatively about me while shedding tears over a car and a house that's not in her name,' Vanessa said in a statement in Spanish.
'She has taken all of her diamond jewelry, she has emptied the apartment that I provided her and put away the furniture so it appears she doesn't have my suppose. My husband and I have supported her financially during the last 20 years, and we continued doing so, in addition to her monthly alimony.
'Contrary to previous reports, she has not been physically present nor has she emotionally supported my daughters and me after my husband and daughter died.'
'I now see what's most important to my mother and it's more than painful. I hope everything that is coming out about our personal relationship ends here,' Vanessa said in the statement.
Sofia Laine is pictured touching Vanessa Bryant's stomach last year when she was pregnant with her youngest daughter. In a statement, Vanessa called her mother's actions 'more than painful' and revealed she and Kobe have financially supported her for two decades
'My husband and daughter passed away unexpectedly and yet my mother had the audacity to do a television interview talking negatively about me while shedding tears over a car and a house that's not in her name,' Vanessa said in a statement in Spanish
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