The Michael Jackson allegations: Who is Jordan Chandler?

Before Gavin Arvizo, Wade Robson, and James Safechuck became linked to allegations against Michael Jackson, one boy's claims changed the pop star's life: Jordan Chandler. But who is he, and where is Chandler now?

13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused the pop star of sexually abusing him back in 1993. It was the first allegation of its kind against the singer and marked the beginning of years of intense legal battles.

Crime+Investigation examines who Jordan Chandler was, how he came to know Michael Jackson, and what the allegations he made in 1993 meant for both of them.

Who was Jordan Chandler

Jordan Chandler was an ordinary 13-year-old from Los Angeles when he first met Michael Jackson in 1992.

The introduction came through Jordan's stepfather, David Schwartz, who managed a luxury car rental company frequently used by celebrities. After which, Jordan’s mother, June Chandler Schwartz, gave Jackson their home number, and the star became a friend of the family.

Jackson knew the young teen was a fan and contacted him at home after they exchanged several letters. As Jackson did with other children during this period, he invited Jordan to Neverland Ranch. Not only that, Chandler and the singer spent significant amounts of time together.

But it wasn’t just Jordan Michael became close to. He had struck up a close friendship with Jordan’s mother, June. She initially trusted Jackson and saw nothing inappropriate about his behaviour. Jordan’s father, however, saw things a little differently.

Concerned by the amount of time his son was spending with Jackson, Evan Chandler became increasingly suspicious. Those concerns eventually led to one of the most high-profile investigations in entertainment history.

Allegations that shocked the world

By April 1993, Jackson’s and Chandler’s relationship seemed to intensify. Allegedly, the pair shared a bed together several times within a three-month period. Around this time, Chandler's father, Evan, became suspicious of Jackson.

The case became known during the summer of 1993. After speaking with a psychiatrist, Jordan alleged that Jackson had sexually abused him over several months. As required under California law, the psychiatrist reported the allegations to child protection authorities, triggering a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police searched Neverland Ranch, interviewed numerous witnesses and examined Jackson's relationship with other children. As part of the investigation, detectives obtained a court order requiring Jackson to undergo a photographic examination of his body after Jordan gave investigators a description of his genitalia.

Jackson denied every allegation. In a televised statement, Jackson described himself as ‘totally innocent’

and said he was determined to clear his name. His legal team argued that the allegations were financially motivated, pointing to disputes between Jackson's representatives and Jordan's father over a proposed settlement before the accusations became public.

Why the case never reached a criminal trial

Despite attracting worldwide attention, the case never resulted in criminal charges.

In January 1994, Jackson reached a civil settlement with the Chandler family, worth millions. The agreement specifically stated that it was not an admission of guilt, and Jackson later said he settled because he wanted to end the civil litigation rather than continue years of legal proceedings.

Importantly, the settlement did not prevent prosecutors from pursuing a criminal case.

Investigators continued gathering evidence, but Jordan later stopped cooperating with the criminal investigation. Without his testimony and with insufficient evidence to proceed, two grand juries declined to indict Jackson, and the criminal investigation was closed without charges.

For supporters of Jackson, the outcome reinforced his claims of innocence. Others argued that the lack of criminal charges did not necessarily resolve the allegations themselves. The debate has remained deeply polarised ever since.

How Jordan Chandler’s case influenced Gavin Arvizo

More than 10 years later, history appeared to repeat itself. In 2000, Michael Jackson met 10-year-old Gavin Arvizo while the boy was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Much like Jordan before him, Gavin and his family became close to Jackson and were invited to stay at Neverland Ranch.

Gavin Arvizo was 15 years old when he alleged that Michael Jackson had molested him at Neverland and fed him and his brother alcohol. According to Gavin, the singer plotted to keep their family at his ranch against their will.

Under California law, prosecutors were allowed to introduce evidence relating to the Chandler allegations to establish a pattern of behaviour. However, Jordan Chandler himself refused to testify. Prosecutors tried to persuade him to appear in court, but he declined and is understood to have left the country rather than become involved in the trial.

After a four-month trial, Jackson was acquitted on all charges relating to Gavin Arvizo.

Jordan Chandler, now in his 40s, is reported to have assumed a new identity and withdrawn entirely from public life.

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