Lisa Marie Presley, the late daughter of the legendary Elvis Presley, has posthumously shared a heart-wrenching revelation in her memoir, shedding light on her profound grief and unconventional way of coping with the tragic suicide of her son, Benjamin, in 2020. In a poignant narrative that transcends the veil of death, she confesses to keeping her beloved son's body in her Calabasas, California, residence for two long months, a testament to her unwavering maternal bond and the depths of her sorrow.
Lisa, who passed away in January 2023 due to a small bowel obstruction, left behind a poignant memoir, completed by her daughter Riley Keough and released nearly two years after her demise. The memoir, "From Here to the Great Unknown," exposes the excruciating struggle Lisa faced as she grappled with the loss of her son, unable to decide between laying him to rest in Hawaii or at her father's iconic Graceland estate, thereby prolonging the agony.
"My house, with its secluded casitas bedroom, became a sanctuary where I held onto Ben Ben for two endless months," she pens, her words echoing the solitude and despair that enveloped her. Riley Keough, an actress, took up the mantle to finish the book, ensuring that Lisa's voice lived on, unfiltered and raw.
Lisa asserts that her actions were not in violation of any law, as California does not mandate immediate burial. "In the Golden State, there's no statute that dictates haste in laying one's loved one to rest," she clarifies, her words echoing the empathy she found in a funeral home owner who understood her need to keep Benjamin close. "She brought him to me, allowing me to hold onto the illusion of parenting him, even in death," Lisa continues, her gratitude palpable.
To preserve his body, Lisa maintained the room's temperature at a frigid 55 degrees, with Riley revealing that her brother rested on dry ice. "I grew accustomed to his presence, nurturing him even in his absence, a practice that would likely terrify others but felt natural to me," Lisa confesses, her resilience tinged with madness.
In a bizarre yet poignant moment, Riley recounts how her mother invited a tattoo artist to their home, intent on inking Benjamin's name onto their skin as a lasting tribute. When asked for a reference photo of the tattoo, Lisa's response stunned Riley – an offer to show the artist Benjamin's body, a suggestion that horrified her daughter.
Ultimately, it was a collective intuition within the family that guided Lisa to lay Benjamin to rest at Graceland, where he now rests alongside his famous grandfather. The decision came after a palpable shift in energy, as if Benjamin himself was ready to move on.
Lisa, the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, sold the Calabasas property, the scene of her son's untimely demise, for $1,995,000 mere months after his passing. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom abode, nestled within the gated Calabasas Park Estates and adorned with a private pool, had been a source of comfort and pain for Lisa. Yet, sources claimed that she could no longer bear to set foot in the house after Benjamin's burial.
The home, purchased by Lisa in March 2020 for $1.8 million, served as a poignant reminder of her loss, its 3,582 square feet of living space now haunted by memories both sweet and sorrowful. As Lisa moved on to a larger property nearby, the old house stood as a silent witness to her unbreakable bond with her son, a love that transcended life and death.
