Samuel Monroe Jr Wife Challenges Mother Over Conservatorship

Shawna Stewart, the wife of actor Samuel Monroe Jr., is contesting a court petition filed by his mother, Joyce Patton, who seeks to establish a conservatorship over the hospitalized Menace II Society star as of August 2026.

Patton filed the petition in probate court to assume control over her son's medical and financial affairs, citing his continued incapacitation. Stewart opposes the effort, stating the actor explicitly designated her to manage his decisions.

The actor was hospitalized in April with undiagnosed meningitis, which progressed into MRSA pneumonia, brain swelling, and kidney complications requiring dialysis and three brain surgeries. While his condition recently showed minor signs of stabilization, including brief periods off a ventilator, he remains unable to direct his care.

In court filings obtained by TMZ, Patton raised concerns regarding a GoFundMe campaign created by Stewart for medical expenses, while questioning whether Stewart receives Monroe Jr.'s film residuals. Patton also claimed the couple had not resided together in roughly 15 years and questioned the legal validity of their marriage.

Stewart publicly rejected those assertions, denying any misuse of funds and alleging that Patton's petition is driven by financial motives rather than concerns for the actor's well-being.

"She is in for a surprise," Stewart said, referring to Patton's doubts regarding the validity of the marriage.

Stewart further clarified that she shares two children with Monroe Jr. and maintained an ongoing relationship with him, noting they lived together during multiple periods in recent years.

The probate court appointed an independent attorney to safeguard Monroe Jr.'s legal interests and directed the release of his medical records to a court-assigned investigator. A judge will evaluate the investigator's findings before determining whether to grant conservatorship authority over the actor's affairs.