Chevrolet Corvette at center of custody battle in Stark County Probate Court

CANTON ‒ Paging King Solomon. Or perhaps Jerry Seinfeld's old nemesis, Newman.

We have a dilemma on our hands.

Who's the rightful owner of a red 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, purchased jointly by Francis Bell and ex-wife Vicki Bell, shortly before he died last year? His heirs — five adult children not related to the former wife ― say it belongs to them. Vicki says she's entitled to half the sports car.

The case of the Corvette has creeped through Stark County Probate Court for the past six months. Unless a settlement between the two sides is reached, a resolution will come during a jury trial scheduled before Judge Dixie Park on Feb. 8.

Either way, it's unlikely anyone will suggest cutting the car in half, as the Newman character on Seinfeld once proclaimed to settle a Kramer vs. Elaine bicycle dispute, a nod to a biblical story of King Solomon's decision to split a baby in two.

The Corvette, purchased from Sarchione Chevrolet last February for $98,371, is stored for now.

Corvette purchased weeks before Francis Bell's death

Attorneys for Francis Bell's executor, his daughter Teresa Pollard, did not respond to a request for comment for this story. And Pollard said she will not comment. Attorney Mitchell Machan, who represents Vicki Bell, also declined to comment.

Details of the saga, though, are laid out in Probate Court documents in two cases. One involves Francis Bell's estate; the other, a concealment of assets complaint against Vicki Bell.

Seventy-nine-year-old Francis "PJ" Bell died on Feb. 25.

The Central Catholic High graduate had founded PJ's Body and Welding in 1977. He'd also "invented a design for a patented cycle carriage for towing motorcycles," according to his obituary published last year.

The death notice for the Sugar Creek Township man went on to state the company ― now called PJ's Body & Welding ― still operates as a family business.

"PJ could accomplish anything he set his mind to do, from bull riding to building toboggan slides with his lifelong friends at Bear Creek," the obituary stated.

He'd also created a trust to manage most of his assets years ago, according to public records. Such trusts can detail how assets are to be managed, divided or maintained.

Problem is, the Corvette wasn't included.

That's because the car was purchased by Francis and Vicki Bell about three weeks before he died on Feb. 25. Both their names are on the title, according to court records.

Francis and Vicki Bell had been married briefly, from 1989 to 1992. More recently, she'd acted as his primary caregiver as his health declined — positioning herself to take advantage of him financially, the estate alleged in court records.

At first, the estate wanted Vicki Bell to pay it for its half of the car. But when those attempts failed, according to court records, the estate sought claim to the entire car.

"The Corvette was purchased during a time when Francis C. Bell was undergoing significant medical treatment and was otherwise in a state of disorientation and without his full mental capacity and faculties," the estate alleges.

The complaint against Vicki Bell — filed in July — goes on to allege she "unduly influenced and coerced Mr. Bell into adding her name to the title for her own personal gain."

Corvettes have a huge fan base

Corvettes, first produced in 1953, are one of the most popular cars for collectors.

"They have such a large following," explained Skip Blowers, a longtime member of the local Buckeye Corvette Club and sponsor of the organization, by way of his Skipco Auto Auction business in Canal Fulton. "Everyone knows what a Corvette is."

Blowers is not involved in the estate case.

But he loves Corvettes.

"All eight of mine are sleeping ... they're in hibernation now," he said.

The Bell red Corvette is snoozing, too.

In September, a court magistrate ordered that Vicki Bell turn over the Corvette so it could be placed in storage to protect its value, until the case is resolved.

Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark Probate Court may decide ownership of Chevrolet Corvette