Riva Tims is setting the record straight after some news reports linked her with a lawsuit to block the release of Zachery Tims’ cause of death.
Tims was found dead on the floor of a W Hotel room in New York City Aug. 12. News reports indicate he had a plastic bag filled with white powder in his pocket, leading many to believe his death was associated with a drug overdose. By Tims’ own testimony, he was instantly delivered from drug addiction when he was saved.
In a move to keep New York Medical Examiner officials from releasing the cause of death, Tims’ mother, Madeline Tims, filed a temporary restraining order against the medical examiner’s office. With the order, the lips of New York officials are sealed.
But it wasn’t Riva who decided to file suit. Tims clarified the matter on her Facebook profile on Sunday night.
“Dear Facebook Family, I wanted to clear up a matter that has recently come to my attention,” she wrote. “There are several news articles claiming that my ex-husband’s mother and I are suing the City of New York to keep his cause of death secret. I was not aware that his mother filed suit and I am in no way involved in this matter. I have not filed suit and I don’t plan to file suit in the future.”
Riva Tims left the church in 2008 during a scandal and eventual divorce in which Zachery Tims admitted to an “indiscretion.”
Riva Tims addressed more than 2,000 people gathered at New Destiny Christian Center in the Orlando, Fla.-area days after her ex-husband died. She told the congregation that she, her ex-husband and their four children traveled together to Puerto Rico the week prior to his death.
“God saw it fit that we would have an opportunity to spend a few days together with him,” she told the crowd. “He was able to fellowship with his sons and his daughters. He was able to take pictures with them.”
A Manhattan State Supreme Court justice will hear Madeline Tims’ case on Nov. 23.
Felicia Abraham contributed to this article.
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