Custody Battle Over Kids of Professor George Zinkhan Who killed 3

ATHENS, Ga. - A Clarke County Superior Court judge has awarded nearly $3.5 million to the son and daughter of a University of Georgia professor but the amount is dwindling amid an ongoing custody dispute over the couple's children.

The money must come from the estate of George Zinkhan, who committed suicide weeks after he killed his wife, Marie Bruce, and two other people in April 2009.

But attoey fees have eroded the estate's holdings as relatives fight over who has custody of the boy and girl, now 10 and 12 years old.

George Zinkhan's brother Chris is named in the late couple's will as guardian of their children. But a judge named Bruce's brother and sister-in-law as temporary guardians after the killings.

The courts have split over who has custody of the children. A Clarke County Superior Court judge granted joint legal custody to both Chris Zinkhan and Bruce's relatives, Lawrence and Donna Bruce.

But that decision was later reversed by the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court refused to consider a challenge by the Bruces. The couple filed another petition last week to revoke Chris Zinkhan's guardianship.

Lane Fitzpatrick, who represents the Bruces, questioned why Chris Zinkhan wants custody of the children. He said he didn't make contact with the children until 110 days after their mother was murdered.

Chris Zinkhan's attoey, Brian Deutsch, would not say if his client will contest the challenge. He also would not comment on the ongoing litigation.