A woman who claims to be one of James Brown's daughters has said that his body has been stolen from a crypt in South Carolina.

The soul singer's body was apparently being stored at daughter Deanna's home in South Carolina while plans for a public mausoleum were finalised.

However, illegitimate daughter LaRhonda Pettit, 48, has now claimed that Brown's body has gone missing.

She told the Daily Mirror it had been taken to prevent her from authorising an autopsy to determine his true cause of death.

"My daddy's body has disappeared,” she said. “I have no clue where it was taken but I need to know where it is.

"I'm convinced his death was suspicious and I want those responsible brought to justice.”

Pettit is one of a number of people who have claimed to be related to Brown since his death in 2006.

The soul legend died from congestive heart failure resulting from complications of pneumonia.

(by Jason Gregory)