Nearly two years after actress Anne Heche's tragic death following a fiery car crash in Los Angeles, her estate is facing significant financial challenges. According to legal documents filed by her son, Homer Laffoon, the bulk of Heche's estate has been appraised at approximately $110,000, a small fraction of the $6 million requested by creditors and those impacted by the accident that led to her fatal injuries.
Heche, 53, crashed her Mini Cooper into an L.A.-area home in 2022, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The homeowners and a woman renting the property are seeking a combined $4 million in damages. Additionally, Heche's ex-boyfriend, actor Thomas Jane, claims he is owed nearly $150,000 from a loan.
Despite the daunting financial situation, Homer Laffoon, 22, who serves as the estate executor, remains "cautiously optimistic that the creditor claims can all be resolved fairly and without litigation." However, the substantial gap between the estate's assets and the mounting debts presents a formidable challenge.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office previously revealed that Heche died on August 11, 2022, from inhalation and thermal injuries caused by the smoke and heat from the car crash. A secondary cause of death was listed as a sternal fracture due to blunt trauma, indicating that her chest likely struck the car's steering wheel during the collision.
After spending six days in the hospital, Heche's family and friends shared the heartbreaking news that the actress was not expected to survive due to the severe anoxic brain injury she had suffered. "Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive," they said through a representative.
Heche's death was officially ruled an accident by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. Per the National Library of Medicine, sternal fractures typically occur in 60-90% of motor vehicle collisions, with the occurrence tripling when seatbelts are used, likely due to deceleration forces.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that there would be no further investigation into the crash after Heche was declared legally dead. Prior to her death, the accident was being investigated by police.
