Nearly two weeks after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed Kasandra Perkins before taking his own life outside the Chiefs' headquarters, more details of what may have triggered the unspeakable tragedy are beginning to emerge.
According to the New York Post, Cheryl Shepherd, Belcher's mother, has told investigators that her son had doubts that he was the biological father of Zoey, his and Perkins' three-month-old daughter.
"The mother believed that there was an issue over whether (Belcher) was the father," said a source close to the Chiefs with knowledge of the situation.
"She said he (believed he) wasn't necessarily the father of the child."
Belcher had been earning $1.927 million this season under a one-year restricted free-agent contract, and, barring an extension, would have been an unrestricted free agent in March. Prior to turning his gun on himself, Belcher reportedly asked Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli to look after Zoey.
[Related: Timeline of the Kansas City Chiefs tragedy]
As part of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, the league and union will support Zoey through her college years. Under the "surviving-child" benefit, Zoey would be entitled to a $600,000 life insurance policy, a $100,000 retirement account and $200,000 for each of the four seasons Belcher played in the NFL.
Zoey's guardian or her estate will receive $108,000 per year over the next four years. When Zoey turns 5, she will receive $48,000 and then $52,000 per year until she is 18 or 23, depending on whether or not she attends college.
Belcher's mother has temporary custody of Zoey, but Perkins' family intends to be involved in her upbringing.
"We will raise Baby Zoey in the knowledge of the love from which she was born," Perkins' family said in a statement.
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