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June 27, 2009

Michael Jackson's Body Returned to His Family
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=25068BD:A6F02AD83191E160C0A6623B845C51B121A4E82C900CD027&
 
Los Angeles coroner office spokesman says county notified family of
findings, placed security hold on case to limit public information until
cause of death can be determined 
Michael Jackson (Jun 2005 file photo)The Los Angeles coroner's office
has released the body of international
pop star Michael Jackson, who died suddenly on Thursday, back to his
family. The family picked the body up on Friday night. No funeral plans
have been announced. Coroner
office spokesman Craig Harvey said earlier the autopsy was
inconclusive. He said there were no signs of external trauma or foul
play, but additional toxicology and pulmonary testing is needed before
a final cause of death can be issued. He says these tests usually take
four to six weeks. He said Los Angeles County notified the
family of the findings and placed a security hold on the case to limit
public information until a cause of death can be determined. Police
said Friday they want to speak to one of Jackson's doctors, who was
with the singer when he fell ill. Police have towed the doctor's car,
which was at Jackon's house, and say they are looking for medications
that could be related to the death. Jackson was pronounced dead Thursday
at the UCLA Medical Center after suffering cardiac arrest at his Los
Angeles home. White
House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that U.S. President Barack
Obama called Jackson a "spectacular performer" and a "music icon."
Jackson
died about two months before his 51st birthday, and just before July's
launch of a series of comeback concerts in London. Tickets for his
London shows, offered in March, sold out in minutes. Jackson's
brother, singer Jermaine Jackson, told reporters Thursday a team of
doctors and paramedics, including Jackson's own physician, tried to
revive the pop star at his home and at the hospital. Jackson
had been rumored to be in ill health for years, but the promoters of
his London shows say he passed a recent medical examination. The
singer, dancer and songwriter became famous as a child in the 1970s
while performing with his brothers in The Jackson 5 pop group. He went
on to an unprecedented solo career, selling more than 750 million
records, including the best-selling albums Off the Wall and Thriller,
becoming a dynamic live stage act, and pioneering the music video genre.
Jackson
was dogged by controversy in his later years. He was acquitted in a
child-molestation trial in 2005 and struggled with financial problems.
He was the subject of countless tabloid newspaper stories about his
eccentric behavior, close relationship with children and multiple
plastic surgeries that led to a dramatic change in his appearance. Some
information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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