Houston man learns credit problem could be due to Jackson's doctor | LOCAL NEWS | KHOU.com | News for Houston, TexasHouston man learns credit problem could be due to Jackson's doctor
08:34 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 12, 2009
HOUSTON—A Houston man has been swept up into the firestorm surrounding the death of Michael Jackson, and he says his social security number might be the reason why. “It’s surreal and kind of unbelievable,” said Robert Carter, at his northwest Houston home.
11 News VideoHouston man learns credit problem could be due to Jackson's doctorFor years, Carter says he’s had problems with his credit but only recently started to figure out why.
“I was watching the news and saw a reporter about Jackson’s doctor. That’s when I knew.”
Jackson’s personal physician was Dr. Conrad Murray. It turns out his social security number is identical to Carter’s except for one digit. Carter says when he applied for a car loan once he was turned down. He was told he had a bankruptcy on his credit.
“I just didn’t understand it because I had never filed bankruptcy,” Carter said.
A public data search reveals a bankruptcy filing for Doctor Murray from 1992. Carter’s social security number was also on the document. Both men’s names also appear on a social trace using Carter’s social security number.
A local activist brought the information to the attention of Murray’s attorneys.
“We just want to clear things up by speaking with their client to get his take on things, “said Erskin Hill, the president of Houston-based All People for Justice.
Attorney Ed Chernoff, who represents Murray, released the following statement: “Why would Conrad Murray in the hopes of extinguishing his dept use anyone else’s social security number? This is either a mistake, a typo or fraud. And if it’s fraud, it was not committed by Conrad Murray.”
For now, Carter just wants to have a clean credit report. “That way I can put this behind me,” he said.