Celebrity Justice
Anna's Body to Be Held for DNA Testing

A Florida judge has ordered that Anna Nicole Smith's body not be released until a DNA test can be performed, as requested by Anna's potential baby daddy, Larry Birkhead.

This decision echoed a a previous ruling by a Los Angeles judge last week, ordering Florida authorities to keep Smith's body for 10 days. Both Howard K. Stern and Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, argued the decision, claiming that if the body is not embalmed soon, it will not be suitable for viewing or funeral purposes. Birkhead's camp argued that accurate DNA testing would not be possible if the body were released and moved out of state.

Meanwhile, Anna's mother is pulling out all the legal stops to ensure that Stern does not get custody of 5-month-old Dannielynn. This morning, Arthur petitioned a Bahamian court to name her the legal guardian of her granddaughter, and asked the judge for an order that forbids the baby to leave the country.

Reader Comments

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46. Poor, poor Anna Nicole! Tormented in death as in life. The ME already has a DNA sample. If they can't trust him to take one, who can they trust!! HKS should get custody of the body so that he can bury her next to Daniel in the Bahamas as she wished. Virgie and AN were estranged long, long ago, as I understand, before HKS. Virgie has shed not one tear (at least publicly) over AN. If that was my child, estranged or not, I would be crying nonstop. I agree with #6 as far as Vergie being a fit parent. Blood is NOT everything....takes more than that to be a good "parent". I think she is looking for early retirement!!

Posted at 12:57PM on Feb 14th 2007 by S. Kimo

47. I feel Bad for Anna's baby. I don't think she will have a normal life, her mother and brother are gone and i think it will be revealed that she did die of the same drugs that her son died of, i just think she was exploited by people who really did not have her best interest at heart. I think she was estranged from her mother because she did not agree with her lifestyle. The whole story is really tragic.

Posted at 12:15PM on Feb 14th 2007 by chiquita

48. #13--------It doesn't matter if she is buried in Texas. That is where she is from. Her son's body can be moved to texas too. When your dead, you dont know where you are buried anyway. You act like ANS knows whats going on now. How can she, she is dead.

Posted at 12:57PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Gary

49. In comments to: Walter Barbera..
I totally agree with you! I have not heard of anyone else asking or thinking of the welfare of the baby. Stern is more worried about the money than anything else. Did you see his interview? UGH! it was so fake that I nearly puked! I know that Anna was not the best role model in the days, but have you ever seen her when Stern was not around? She acted pretty normal to me. Something is not adding up. Danny's overdose and Anna's...Same drugs? I do pray that the baby will go to someone who loves her, and not just love her for the money...

Posted at 1:50PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Crazy cat lady

50. Do you people not remember that Anna HATED her mother? The reason does not matter although she (Anna) stated it was for reasons stemming from her childhood, long before Howard K Stern was in the picture. She publicly and repeatedly stated that she wanted nothing to do with the WITCH and NEVER wanted her "mother" to see the child let alone raise her! How would any of you feel if they gave custody of you and your most prized love to your worst enemy???

Posted at 12:17PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Cassy

51. #14 - Maybe to prove that the DNA sample from the baby is really from ANS's baby? I don't know. I suppose they're trying to dot all the i's and cross all the t's so there will be absolutely no question about what baby the sample came from.

Posted at 12:18PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Alexis

52. ^5 Natalie, and while you are adding names, please let's not exclude the media, all the so called good Lawyers, Judges, and all the want to be money hungry people. If anyone really cared, they would leave Howard and Dannilynn alone. It saddens me to know that American people are this way. Anna Nicole, say what you may, Anna was a very smart woman. I may not agree to all of her ways.... but she was, is, and always will be a Super Star. I too have met Anna, being from SC. She was a loving caring mother to Daniel. America get a life and move on. What makes Anna any different from the other stars. The Bible says JUDGE NOT AND YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:21PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Debra

53. Howard kept Anna away from her family. She kept her drugged and brain washed her. I saw an interview (Nancy Grace or Larry King) with Daniel and Danielynns Godmother. The woman had nothing nice to say about Howard. She said when Daniel died Anna called her mother and someone in Anna's room hung up the phone. I think the children's Godmother would have accurate information and Anna's best interests in mind. She is NOT a Howard fan and sides with Virgie. The woman impressed me and would not answer certain questions that she thought were gossip and none of the interviewers business.

Hurry up with the DNA so the child can bond with her REAL father. Can you imagine if this takes years and then the child is taken from Howard the only parent she has ever known? Disgusting.

Posted at 1:12PM on Feb 14th 2007 by BJ

54. # 7 and # 11...didn't you hear? Howard killed Kimmie....and Sugarpie years ago!

I am kidding...anm I the only one pulling for Howard?

Posted at 2:16PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Kerryanne

55. Right On MT #8. You are absolutely right . I am going to e-mail the Bahamas again, like I did along with the others who begged them to schedule a long overdue inquest into Daniel's death. Thank God we did so.
I would hope they realize that A BOYCOTT of the BAHAMAS, like ARUBA, may happen.
Does anyone think for one moment that HKS was looking forward to the upcoming inquest??
He has defied the court of law, as have his lawyers, IMO in regards to the paternity test and his HORRID TREATMENT OF ANNA and HER MOTHER!!!

Posted at 12:19PM on Feb 14th 2007 by Walter Barbera

56. To: David

POST: #14

I heard that Birkhead's attorney said that this leaves no stone unturned having both parents DNA so that when they go to court there will be no back lash. Makes since....covering all of their tracks.....

Posted at 9:48AM on Feb 15th 2007 by Rachel

57. I think ANS's mother needs to go back to Texas and leave Howard and the authorities the hell alone. I was so disgusted watching her run her mouth about Anna earlier. I would hate to think that after all these years, my own mother wouldn't have something just a little decent to say about me. I think she's full of sh*t and needs to stay out of the picture. Where was she when Anna was so sick? She wasn't with her then and she doesn't need to be around now. I have no respect or sympathy for that woman. I hope that when this is all over - no one gets any damn money and then we'll see who wants custody of the baby. Hell, there won't be one soul around. RIP ANS because Justice will be done!

Posted at 1:03PM on Feb 14th 2007 by K. Jackson

58. #14 Larry's lawyers are worried about a DNA sample being switched. They want to confirm that the DNA they receive from the baby is Anna's child and not Howard's niece that is a similar age.

Posted at 12:24PM on Feb 14th 2007 by BJ

59. My understanding is that Birkhead wants Anna's DNA to prove that it is actually her baby that is being tested, i.e., so that HKS cannot submit a different baby for testing that obviously would not be a match for Birkhead's DNA.

Posted at 12:21PM on Feb 14th 2007 by CA Girl

60. Birkhead supposedly Loved Anna , but why is he Allowing his none laid attorney to keep holding the body up? The coroner has already said there is more than enough samples taken. It sounds like birkhead just wants to hold the body up so there can't be a proper viewing by her friends and family.

Posted at 12:34AM on Feb 21st 2007 by Lewis

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