Infomercial personality Sam Meranto, 94, is embroiled in a contentious legal battle with his much younger wife, Cynthia, who he alleges is attempting to place him in a nursing home and gain control of his assets. Meranto, a behavioral hypnotherapist known for his late-night infomercials promoting self-help programs in the 1980s, married Cynthia in 1983. She was 22 at the time, and he was 51. Cynthia, now 65, has filed for guardianship and conservatorship, asserting that Meranto suffers from a "major neurocognitive impairment" and is incapable of managing his affairs.
The legal conflict escalated on March 9 when Cynthia petitioned for emergency temporary guardianship and conservatorship, seeking to make it permanent. Court documents indicate that the dispute over Meranto's health dates back to July 2025, when he was hospitalized after a fall and subsequently moved to a care facility. Meranto reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the facility, researching his rights to leave against his will if mentally competent.
Meranto's adult sons, Jeffrey and Jason, removed him from the care facility on February 10 of this year and moved him into a family home, citing Cynthia's restrictions on their visits. Cynthia, in turn, accused the sons of enabling Meranto to drive unsafely and alleged that Jeffrey withdrew money from his father's accounts. She further claimed that Sam's adult children had stolen from him.
In a recent development, Sam Meranto appointed his son Jeffrey, also known as Rico, as his power of attorney, replacing Cynthia. Cynthia alleges Meranto was manipulated into this decision, while Rico maintains his father willingly made the change. Cynthia's attorney argues Meranto has a "progressive life-limiting illness" and lacks the capacity for decision-making. However, Meranto's court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Steven L. Evans, stated in a July 29 hearing that Meranto is in "remarkably good shape for a man of his age" and that maintaining relationships with his children is in his best interest.
Meranto is currently residing in a Phoenix family home with round-the-clock caregivers. A caregiver at the residence reportedly told an Arizona Republic reporter in June that visitors were not permitted. Meranto, using a walker, reportedly stated, "This is my castle. I'm a prisoner in my own castle."
The legal proceedings have seen various shifts in appointments. Initially, Stephanie McCollum was appointed as Meranto's temporary guardian and conservator, but was later replaced by Cynthia. Maricopa County Probate Judge Kerstin LeMaire ruled on July 23 that Meranto is an incapacitated person, citing sufficient evidence for an interim finding.
Cynthia has also requested a protective order to suspend visits between Meranto and Rico, citing Rico's past federal tax evasion conviction and asserting that his contact could be detrimental to Meranto's health, safety, welfare, or finances. She seeks authority to monitor visits with other family members until Meranto stabilizes.
Meranto, who has three surviving children from his first marriage, has expressed love for his wife and children and opposes any limitations on seeing his family. He has also requested to change his court-appointed lawyer and is seeking a jury trial to determine the necessity of a permanent guardian and conservator. As of Thursday, these requests had not been granted. Cynthia, in a text message on June 26, stated that she loves Sam and that the situation has been "very difficult for everyone involved."