Mary Max, 52-year-old wife of famed pop artist Peter Max, kills herself in their Upper West Side apartment
- Mary Max, 52, was found dead of apparent suicide in her Manhattan apartment
- Police list her cause of death as nitrogen asphyxiation
- Max is the wife of Peter Max, the 81-year-old pop artist who is ill with dementia
- Mary Max was in the midst of a bitter legal dispute with members of her family
- Family members were in court fighting over Peter Max’s pricey art collection
Mary Max, the wife of noted artist Peter Max, killed herself in her apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side over the weekend, according to police.
Max, 52, was found dead in her apartment on Riverside Drive near West 84th Street on Sunday evening among a bitter legal battle with her step-son Adam Max, 49, about her 81-year-old husband’s artwork.
Her official cause of death was nitrogen asphyxiation, according to the New York Post.
Mary Max (right), the wife of famed pop artist Peter Max (left), has died of suicide
Her husband of more than 20 years Peter is living with an advanced form of dementia.
In 2015, Mary Max was sued by her stepson, Adam Max.
Adam accused Mary of attempting to kill her husband so that she could take control of his multi-million dollar art collection.
Mary accused Adam of stealing $4.3million worth of artwork that her husband gave her in a prenuptial agreement.
Mary Max, 52, (right) was found dead in her apartment on Riverside Drive near West 84th Street on Sunday evening among a bitter legal battle with her step-son Adam Max, 49, about her 81-year-old husband’s (left) artwork
She was found dead in her New York City apartment on Sunday, according to police
Peter (second right) and Mary (right) with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and his wife Theresa (left), as Peter unveiled portraits of him in 1997
Peter’s mental state has deteriorated significantly in recent years as the legal battles raged on in court.
Berlin-born Peter rose to fame in the 1960s, when he became known for his
For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255