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John Hollenhorst reportingA half century ago, he was one of the richest and best-known residents of Utah.
Today, "Charlie Steen The Uranium King" is nearly 84 years old and suffering from Alzheimer's.
And, a Battle Royale has erupted in the Uranium King's family.
Anyone who ever thought money can buy happiness ought to take a second look at Charlie Steen's family.
His sons are battling each other over the remnants of his fortune... with bitter accusations of abuse, neglect and outright greed.
Andrew Steen has only vague memories of living in the ramshackle town of Cisco, Utah. He was not quite four years old.
The four Steen boys were so poor, their father Charlie went hunting to feed them.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "WE GREW UP ON ILLEGAL VENISON AND JACKRABBIT."
Charlie Steen was a Texas geologist who turned prospector to follow a dream.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "THEY WERE HAPPY DAYS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, BECAUSE AT LEAST WE WERE A FAMILY UNIT. WE WERE TOGETHER."
But a fateful day in 1952 eventually led to 30 years of family strife.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "NOW I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH HAPPINESS. AND WE'RE THE MOST-- WE'RE THE QUINTESSENTIAL DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY."
Charlie's Eureka Moment was portrayed in a 50's TV show. A geiger counter confirmed Charlie's historic discovery of uranium.
JACKIE COOPER/PLAYING CHARLIE: (clickety click) "BUDDY THAT'S IT! THAT'S IT BUDDY!! THAT'S IT! I FOUND IT! I FOUND THE MILLION DOLLAR LICK!"
In 1992, Steen returned to Moab as guest of honor for the Discovery Day parade.
Charlie Steen/ July 4, 1992: "AND IT WAS A MILLION DOLLAR LICK." JOHN HOLLENHORST: "MORE THAN A MILLION." A: "YEAH, ABOUT 130 MILLION."
In the '50's and '60's, Charlie was the toast of Moab, famous the world over.
He invited thousands of local residents to lavish parties with famous movie stars. His wife and four boys loved it all.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "WE WERE SPOILED ROTTEN. HAD EVERYTHING THAT MONEY COULD BUY. TOO MUCH."
It lasted just 15 years. By the 70's Charlie was bankrupt.
It's often been described as a story of rags to riches to rags. But that's not quite true. Members of the Steen family wound up owning, and still own, numerous assets, including an old gold mine in Colorado.
Last month a social worker following a complaint went to a modest town house in Longmont, Colorado. According to her report, she found 83 year old Charlie Steen alone.
He was unable to remember anything for more than a few seconds. The home was dusty and cluttered.. a strong smell of urine... the carpet very stained and dirty. The Uranium King answered the door in urine-stained sweatpants.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE OF MY BROTHERS TO ABANDON HIM IN THIS MANNER. THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT. "
Andrew recently returned from Spain, where he says he moved 22 years ago to get away from family squabbling.
He's now embroiled with his brother Mark in various court battles along with other family members.
In a Colorado court Andrew is asking for emergency custody of their aging father.
In a Moab court, Andrew is fighting Mark for control, claiming Mark has mismanaged the family assetts.
Mark refused to speak to us except to say of Andrew, "He's stark raving bonkers and has been for many years."
Andrew says more or less the same thing about Mark.
Andrew Steen/ Charlie's Son: "PRETTY TRAGIC, ISN'T IT? NOT A VERY FITTING END FOR AMERICA'S URANIUM KING."
The Colorado custody case goes to court December 2nd. They'll be in a Moab court December 8th for the financial battle.
The family assetts are so tangled up in legal complexities, no one knows how much they're worth. Estimates range from $12 million down to just about zero.
