A onetime late-night infomercial celebrity is locked in a bitter dispute with his decades-younger wife, alleging she is trying to place him in a nursing facility and gain control of his fortune.
Sam Meranto, 94, became a familiar face to television viewers in the 1980s through after-hours infomercials that promoted his guided meditation methods, hypnosis-based practices and self-improvement programs.
Meranto, a behavioral therapist and hypnotherapist who was 51 at the time, married his second wife, Cynthia, in September 1983 following a two-year courtship.
Cynthia was 22 when the couple wed, and she later joined him in his Phoenix, Arizona-based meditation and self-help business.
Now, the pair are facing off in Maricopa County Probate Court over Meranto’s medical care and their estimated $2.6 million estate after Cynthia filed a petition seeking guardianship, according to court records first obtained by The Arizona Republic.
In the filings, Cynthia, 65, alleges that her husband is suffering from a “major neurocognitive impairment” and can no longer make informed choices about his health care or finances.
She further accused Sam’s adult children from his first marriage to Maria of stealing from him and claimed they took him out of a care facility in February without her approval.
Sam disputes those claims, insisting he remains mentally competent. He argues that a conservatorship would limit his control over his money and cut him off from friends and relatives, while also raising his fear that he could be sent to a nursing home to spend his final days.
Sam Meranto, 94, is in a contentious legal battle with his wife of 42 years, Cynthia, over his care and their $2.6 million estate
Cynthia, 65, claims Sam has a ‘major neurocognitive impairment’ and is ‘unable to make meaningful decisions regarding his care and finances’
The couple are pictured together in happier times, before their ugly legal battle exploded
The couple’s legal battle officially began on March 9 after Cynthia filed a petition for emergency appointment of a temporary guardianship and conservatorship.
Citing her husband’s ‘incapacity,’ Cynthia also asked that the guardianship and conservatorship eventually become permanent.
But the issues surrounding Sam’s health actually date back to July 2025, when he was hospitalized after suffering a bad fall and subsequently sent to a care home, the court documents revealed.
Sam seemingly hated being in the facility and flooded his Facebook page with posts and research about whether he could be held in an assisted living facility against his will if he was mentally competent.
His sons Jeffrey, 71, and Jason, 59, took Sam out of the care facility on February 10 this year and moved him into a family home, according to the court filings.
The brothers told the court they pulled Sam from the facility because Cynthia had restricted them from visiting their father there.
Cynthia claims the restriction was put in place because the brothers were allowing Sam to drive, which she claimed was unsafe, she told the court.
She further accused Jeffrey, who goes by Rico, of taking Sam on trips to the bank to withdraw money for him.
Sam rose to fame in the 1980s for his late-night TV infomercials promoting his guided meditation, hypnosis-related techniques and self-help programs
The behavioral and hypnotherapist, then 51, married his second wife, Cynthia, in September 1983 after dating her for two years. She was 22 when they tied the knot
The couple share this $1 million home in Phoenix, but have been living apart since July 2025
Sam has since appointed Rico to replace Cynthia as his power of attorney – a move that Cynthia alleges the 94-year-old was manipulated into doing.
Rico disputes Cynthia’s accusations, claiming that Sam willingly signed the power of attorney documents after repeatedly begging for Rico’s help to leave the care facility.
Sam has a ‘progressive life-limiting illness’ and lacks ‘sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions,’ Cynthia’s attorney Carol Soderquist argued in a court filing.
This assertion has seemingly been disputed by Sam’s court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Steven L Evans, who during a July 29 hearing told the judge that Sam is in ‘remarkably good shape for a man of his age.’
Evans added that having a relationship with his children is in Sam’s best interest.
Sam is currently living in a family home in Phoenix with round-the-clock caregivers, the newspaper reported. Cynthia’s current address is unknown.
When an Arizona Republic reporter stopped by Sam’s home on June 10, a caregiver reportedly said the 94-year-old was not permitted to have visitors.
Sam, who was using a walker, managed to push past the staffer long enough to say: ‘This is my castle. I’m a prisoner in my own castle.’
Sam maintains that he is mentally stable and believes a conservatorship will restrict his access to money, friendships and family. He also fears that he will be sent to a nursing home to die
The couple’s legal battle began on March 9 after Cynthia filed a petition for emergency appointment of a temporary guardianship and conservatorship citing his ‘incapacity’
Sam has put in a nursing home last year, but seemingly hated being in the facility. His Facebook page was flooded with posts and research about whether he could be held in an assisted living facility against his will if he was mentally competent
Rico hired a company called Caregiving for Seniors in February to assist with Sam’s care.
The firm was fired by Sam’s court-appointed guardian and conservator Stephanie McCollum in May.
The company’s co-owner Kathy Hamilton alleged that McCollum fired them after she filed a report against McCollum with the state’s Adult Protective Services, court documents showed.
Hamilton alleged that McCollum denied Sam access to his credit cards and groceries, a claim she adamantly denies.
McCollum, in a court filing, alleged that she fired Hamilton’s caregivers because they were interfering with her temporary guardianship and conservatorship.
Maricopa County Probate Judge Kerstin LeMaire last month appointed Cynthia to replace McCollum as Sam’s temporary court-appointed guardian and conservator.
She was also named the sole trustee of his estate.
The judge on July 23 ruled that Sam, as defined by state law, is an incapacitated person and said ‘there is sufficient evidence to support an interim finding of incapacity.’
Cynthia, in a text message to the Arizona Republic on June 26, said she loves Sam and that the situation ‘has been very difficult for everyone involved’
Cynthia, at a gun range with her friends, was appointed as Sam’s temporary court-appointed guardian and conservator last month. She was also named the sole trustee of his estate
Cynthia wants a protective order issued to suspend visits between Sam and Rico.
Her legal team argued that Rico served time after being previously convicted of federal tax evasion and that ‘there is a reasonable basis to believe that Sam’s contact with Rico will be detrimental to his health, safety or welfare – or finances.’
Cynthia also wants the power to monitor visits with other family members ‘until Sam stabilizes.’
Sam had five children with his first wife. Only three of them are still alive. He told the court that he loves his wife and children, and opposes any limits on seeing his family.
The infomercial star has also asked to replace his court-appointed lawyer with a new attorney and is demanding a jury trial to determine whether he needs a permanent guardian and conservator.
Evans told the court that he believes Sam has the capacity to choose his own lawyer.
As of Thursday, Sam’s requests had not been granted.
The Daily Mail has approached attorneys for Sam and Cynthia for comment. Jason and Rico do not have lawyers on file, the court docket showed.
Cynthia, in a text message to the Arizona Republic on June 26, said she loves Sam and that the situation ‘has been very difficult for everyone involved.’
