On 18 August 1993 the Los Angeles Police Dept announced to the world that it was investigating allegations of child abuse made by the family of 13-year-old Jordy Chandler against Michael Jackson. The singer strongly denied all charges and released a video proclaiming his innocence, claiming the family were trying to extort money from him. Police are said to have interviewed 30 of Jackson's young friends who had stayed at his Neverland Ranch and each denied any wrong-doing. But Jackson's sister La Toya claimed to have evidence of her brother's guilt and, for the right price, would share it with the world. However, newspapers that took her up on the offer soon found she had no evidence. By January 1994 over two hundred witnesses had been questioned and though Chandler's allegations couldn't be proven Michael decided to settle out of court for a total of $22million saying, "I wanted to go on with my life. Too many people had already been hurt. I want to make records. I want to sing. I want to perform again...It's my talent. My hard work. My life. My decision."