Home : Anna Nicole Smith : Anna's Mom Lawyers Up

Anna's Mom Lawyers Up

Posted Feb 13th 2007 2:48PM by TMZ Staff

Virgie Arthur and Larry BirkheadTMZ has learned Anna Nicole Smith's mother has hired a Florida lawyer to get Anna's body released for burial.

We've confirmed that Virgie Arthur has hired Coral Gables attorney Stephen Tunstall to secure the body. But there's a catch: There are two outstanding California court orders preventing burial. A judge has put a hold on the release of the body; a second order demands a DNA sample from Smith.

We're told Larry Birkhead's lawyer, Debra Opri, will ask a Miami court to "domesticate" both orders from the California court. If granted, the orders would have full force and effect in Florida. We're told Opri is making the requests in Florida today and tomorrow.

But there's a twist. We're told Birkhead has no objections to releasing the body, provided he gets a DNA sample sent to the lab he selected. For some reason, we're told Stephen Tunstall has not agreed to release the DNA to Birkhead's lab.

TMZ spoke with Tunstall, who said "I have been retained by Virgie. I do not wish to have any contact with anybody in the media."

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31.
I think this woman ANS's mother is a fat slob and a total leech ! She is as bad if not worse than HKS ! This c**t is pocketing $$$$ from interviews too ! and the only reason she even gives a sh*t now is because there is money involved !!

I was on Larry's side until he brought thisfat p.o.s in !!

Honestly ... the baby would be much better off adopted by a stable family with morals . Put her money in savings until she is 18 .

Posted at 9:21PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Stop talentless hacks !

32. I think anna's mother is a good person and should be the one to raise anna's daughter. It is the girls grandmother. Anna's mother meens no harm she just wants whats right for her daughter vicky lynn.

Posted at 4:08PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Louie

33. SOMEONEPLEASE CHARGE HOWARD WANNABE (NEVER BEEN AN ATTORNEY-LEACHED ONTO ANNA'S MONEY) STERN. HE PLANNED THIS ENTIRE THING! PEOPLE WILL TESTIFY TO HER SCREAMING IN THE HOSPITAL AT HIM "YOU DID THIS" I THINK HE HOOKED THEM BOTH ON METH AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. HE TOOK A 1MIL. DEAL INTERVIEW RIGHT AFTER ANNA DIED !! AND DROVE HER 1MIL+ BOAT BACK TO THE BAHAMA'S - THE SLOW BOAT WAY. THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE AUDIO TAPE OF ANNA TEARFULLY CALLING HER MOTHER (WHO RAISED DANIEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS) TO TELL HER HE PASSED WITH HOWARD YELLING AND SLAMMING THE PHONE DOWN - HE CONTROLLED, DRUGGED AND MANIPULATED THEM BOTH. NOW HE HAS A BAHAMIAN ATTORNEY TO TRY AND STEAL THAT HOUSE - THE BABY - HER MONEY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP PAYING HIM FOR INTERVIEWS AND THE PREGNENCY PHOTOS HE'S TRYING TO SELL.! EVIL, BLOODSUCKING BASTARD !

Posted at 4:09PM on Feb 13th 2007 by SHARON

34. Howard K. Stern your world is going down. The only person who should get Anna Nicole Smith's body is her "Mother"...Stupid people it doesn't matter how long they've been estranged that is her Mother. Howard K. Stern....The Pimp...The Killer...The Drug Pusher...The Fake Cry Baby... ISN'T HER HUSBAND!!!!

Posted at 4:06PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Divine

35. i feel that howard stern had every motive to do her in by messing up her way of thinking she was always under the influence of drugs or something i have two sons that where drug addicted and have seen many signs on them when on drugs one son is still addicted and life is not easy at all sorry about anna but howard did NOT HELP HER HE DESTOYEDHER WHOLE LIFE

Posted at 4:29PM on Feb 13th 2007 by rose

36. THIS WOMAN IS SO RIDICULOUS, SHE HASNT EVEN BOTHER SEEING HER DAUGHTER'S BODY, ONLY WANTS THE BODY TO HURT HOWARD K. STERN,
TRYING TO USE IT TO SEE THE BABY, AND TO GAIN PUBLIC SYMPATHY. WHICH IS TO LATE, HER INTERVIEW ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA DID NOT HELP HER. SHE WAS ASKED IF SHE WAS GOING TO SEE HER DAUGHTERS BODY, SHE SAID NO,

SICK, DISGUSTING, MAGGOT OF A MOTHER SHOULD BE KEP VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE BABY.

Posted at 6:20PM on Feb 13th 2007 by NYCGAL328

37. EXCUSE ME PEOPLE - DO YOUR HOMEWORK ! WHO DO YOU THINK RAISED ANNA'S SON DANIEL - HELLO - IT WAS ANNA'S MOTHER - YOU MAKE ME SICK! MR STERN DIDN'T ALLOW A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM. THERE ARE TAPES THAT PROVE WHENEVER ANNA CALLED HER HE'D GET REALLY ANGRY AND HANG THE PHONE UP ON HER.

Posted at 4:27PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Teri

38. Anna did not want anything to do with her mother for the main fact her mother is just like ours. Virgie tried her best to keep Anna out of the night clubs at the tender age 17th. Which of you daughters would not rebel. Yes, Anna turn around and made a name for herself but the question is was it a good name? I seriously do not think Anna's mother is interested in the millions. Just like she warned Anna after her son died to be careful of the company she is hanging around as she Anna might be next. As the said mothers knows best because that is exactly what happen. Virgie is very concern about the grand daughter.

Posted at 4:09PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Pitiful

39. Fat Cow, obviously Anna Nicole had her reasons to despise her mother-At this point I say let a normal family like mine or any decent american bury the poor woman and adopt her beautiful child- who cares about the stupid money, this is a beautiful child in the middle of a gigantic mess- There shouldn't be any money anyway; face it folks, I admired ANS but she married MArshall for the dough and he left her out of the will- probably because he gave her plenty when she was alive. I'd be happy to raise Dannielyn- she is a gorgeous little girl who deserves a good family upbringing which she will never get with any of the vultures circling.

Posted at 4:09PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Pat

40. According to the M.E., Anna's body is in the process of decomposition and will break down in the next two weeks awaiting the latest court hearing in reference to the DNA testing. The body is to be released to the next-of-kin....who else will bury Anna, her daughter when she's 18?

As for all you people hating Anna's mom---will you please explain why? I still haven't gotten that. From what I've pieced together, Anna's mom didn't like Howard and the problems became very heated after the death of Daniel. Anna apparently called her mom after his death but the phone may have been disconnected by Howard (at least per the latest reports). If it's because the theory is that Anna was abused, why would she think her mom was fit enough to care for her son the first 6 years of his life? It seems to me that mom told Anna the cold, hard truth....and probably met first with the contempt of Howard and then Anna. I believe that mother and daughter's rift would have been dispelled by a concerned friend--but I believe him to be more of a selfish & controlling Svengali.

Maybe Anna's mom is after more than just burying her daughter...but for pete's sake, bury her already. I'd bet that she would choose to bury any next to Daniel.

If Howard is really concerned about Anna's (and her daughter's) best interests, he would allow a DNA test, allow Anna to be buried and quit trying to fight everyone and everything simply because he's too stubborn to know when to quit.

Posted at 4:12PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Helloooo

41. Doesn't matter what went down between Anna and her mother. She made it very plain in recent weeks that she DESPISED the woman. I despise the woman and she isn't even my mother !!

Posted at 4:23PM on Feb 13th 2007 by geez louise

42. This has been a toxic situation for years and it doesn't show any signs of ending. "Virgie" may be in law enforcement, but some of the biggest jerks in the world are and have been deputy sheriffs. She is after the money and fame. Otherwise, she would have shown some class and kept her mouth shut about Anna. No wonder Anna wouldn't have any contact with her family! Daniel was a grown man with plenty of opportunity to contact his grandmother or aunts if he wanted to. Anna loved him so much and he loved his mother very much as well. Daniel loved him mom, Anna. Anna hated her mother, Virgie! hmmm I think that shows Virgie as a loser.
I just pray for Anna to be buried with Daniel. No one can know how the loss of your child affects you. I do know this loss and the pain never gets better, you just have to learn to live with it. The time that has passed since Daniel died is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the time it would have taken her to live with this pain. Some people are strong and some are not, Howard found her weaknesses and he was able to separate her from everyone. If he did cause these two deaths, Anna knows it now. It will catch up with him. I think that none of the players in this scenario are equipped and fit to raise this innocent baby. It's a sad and sick situation. At least she is at peace now.

Posted at 7:23PM on Feb 13th 2007 by da

43. I HOPE HOWARD PAYS THE PRICE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO ANNA AND HER SON

Posted at 4:43PM on Feb 13th 2007 by rose

44. To all of you geniuses out there that seem to think there is this huge fortune awaiting Anna's mother, guess what? The determination has not yet been made as to the 88 million or so of Marshall's estate that is still being litigated. All the Supreme Court said was that Anna had the right to pursue what she claims is her part of his estate. So stop throwing around ridiculous statements about the money. There is no money at this time and there may very well never be any huge amount of money awarded to Anna's estate. The Marshall family has fought Anna at every turn and there is no reason that they will stop now.

I don't know what her mother's motives are. Maybe she is concerned for the unclaimed body of her daughter. She is still her mother, whether or not they were estranged in life. Howard K. Stern is no blood relation to Anna Nicole Smith. This maniac has this baby girl in hiding right now, so that the real father can't get her. Larry Birkhead seems to be very genuine in his desire to have the necessary DNA test done to prove that he is the father. If the tabloids really want to do a public service, then let them dig and get the truth out. If Howard K. Stern was indeed responsible for Daniel's death, then he should rot in jail. I, for one, will always be haunted by Anna's mother going on a TV show to publicly plead for her daughter to get away from Stern. It looks like she had reason for her fears.

Posted at 4:35PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Mindy Moore

45. I can see a mother wanting to bury her daughter. Unfortunately, Vergie does not have the $$ to bury Anna next to Daniel in the Bahamas. When it comes time for the funeral, we'll see if she is in it for the money or not. Methinks some of Dannielynn's trust fund money will be used to bury her mother. So sad, and extremely tragic.

Posted at 4:18PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Slight Buzz

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