The story of Brooke Astor's last days at the hands of her greedy son, her greedier daughter-in-law and an unscrupulous attorney are like something straight out of a Dominick Dunne novel. Sadly, the events were all too real, and a despicable end to a life of kindness and generosity to folks from all walks of life.

When the story broke last year of Brooke's sad plight, living in squalor while her son pillaged her assets, New Yorkers were aghast. Discovered by her grandson in a desperate way, she was rescued by the courts and her powerful friends from Anthony's larcenous control and allowed to live out her final days on her beloved Westchester estate. Anthony and his co-conspirator, Francis Morrissey, created a state of siege in Mrs. Astor's home, constantly badgering her to change her will and sign over assets. It got so bad she'd pretend to be sleeping whenever Anthony came to visit.

Anthony and Morrissey each face multiple charges of fraud, forgery and coercion, and their trials promise to be equally titillating and gut-wrenching. There's also a new book out entitled Mrs. Astor Regrets by Meryl Gordon, which tells the story of Mrs. Astor's virtual imprisonment as told by her maids, nurses and butlers, who were listening via baby monitors and who filled up 30 notebooks over four years with details of what these professionals deemed "abuse, neglect and manipulation". That a son could do this to his mother, a mother who had never denied him anything, is despicable, and I hope he receives the maximum sentences allowed for each charge. And while they're at it, I hope they throw a few charges at his wife, Charlene, too. She's no saint - she was married to a minister when she met Anthony, but quickly dumped the pastor for greener pastures. She couldn't get enough of the Astor fortune, and is said to be a driving force behind much of Anthony's machinations.