Developing Stories

Joseph Middleton tells TMZ the morning of June 25, one of his nieces, LaQuisha Middleton, had just arrived at Dr. Murray's medical practice where she worked when she received a call to go to the storage facility. Joseph does not know who called LaQuisha, but based on his conversations with her, he says the call came either from Dr. Murray or someone who works for Dr. Murray. He also says she went with another woman who was not LaQuanda Price, LaQuisha's sister.

The manager of the storage facility tells us two women, whom she believed at the time to be Laquisha and LaQuanda, arrived at 9:22 AM (Houston time) and picked up 3-5 boxes, as well as other items.

Joseph says LaQuanda told him LaQuisha picked up a chair and boxes, although when we interviewed LaQuanda in Houston, she only remembers a box -- she says a box containing dirty needles that LaQuisha inexplicably brought back to the office. In the same interview, LaQuisha only admitted picking up a chair.

Joseph told us LaQuisha got the call at around 9 AM Houston time. That is 7 AM Los Angeles time, more than 5 hours before Dr. Murray called 911.

As we first reported, it took multiple bottles of Propofol to keep Michael Jackson asleep through a single night. Law enforcement sources tell us they believe -- though cannot prove yet -- that Propofol bottles may have been stored at one or more locations under the control of Dr. Murray and FedExed to L.A.

Law enforcement has a suspicion Dr. Murray walked out of the room for a period of time after administering the Propofol, possibly fell asleep, and when he returned Jackson had stopped breathing. Cops think Dr. Murray then may have spent hours "cleaning up" the situation before calling 911.

Sources close to Paula Abdul say even though "Dancing with the Stars" ain't gonna happen, she's still talking to ABC about a show of her very own.

As we first reported, Paula met with ABC honcho Steve McPherson earlier this week and now we're told one of the cards on the table is a possible variety show. And we're told they also discussed a talent competition with Paula in the Simon Cowell seat. Sources say Paula also talked about her desire to become the executive producer.

And there's this little tidbit. We're told Paula's feelings about being "disrespected" by "Idol" execs is more intense than ever after learning Victoria Beckham pulled in a fortune -- reportedly $275,000 an episode.

But sources say she'd still come back to Simon -- if the price ($10,000,000 a year) is right.

Michael Jackson has not been buried, multiple family sources tell us. We're told he's above ground at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and is being kept in a freezer.

We're told Katherine has frequently visited the temporary resting place.

As for where the body is eventually going ... no decision yet. We're told Jermaine is the lone family member who wants Neverland as Michael's final resting place. The rest of the family is appalled by Jermaine's wish, because M.J. hated Neverland after the molestation trial and wanted nothing to do with it.

Increasingly, Jermaine is becoming estranged from the rest of the Jackson brood.

As we first reported, paramedics found Jackson in Dr. Murray's room. The doctor had administered Propofol to Jackson while Michael was laid out on the bed.

When EMT workers arrived -- and subsequently when police came on scene -- there was no evidence that the doctor had been staying in the room. There was no luggage, no clothes of Dr. Murray's ... no signs he had been staying there.

Authorities believe Dr. Murray generally showed up in the evenings to administer drugs and left during the day. We're told the doctor had administered Propofol to Jackson in the room numerous times. Essentially the bedroom became a home clinic for Jackson, with drugs -- including Propofol -- hidden in the closet area.

As for where Dr. Murray was staying, law enforcement sources say they have evidence he was living in Santa Monica -- approximately eight miles from Jackson's Holmby Hills home. Interestingly, Nicole Alvarez -- the woman who bore Dr. Murray's 7th child -- lives in a Santa Monica apartment.

George Clooney is gearing up for a legal war in Italy -- claiming invasive paparazzi climbed over the wall of his Italian home and shot a topless photo of a 13-year-old girl changing in one of his guest rooms.

The photographer also took shots of Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis enjoying private moments in the yard of his estate.

The photos were published in two magazines -- and in a statement to TMZ, Clooney says he's gunning to sue both the mags and the photog who took the pictures.

"We're suing two magazines AND a photographer. I don't know about the law in the United States but in Italy it's illegal for photographers to climb over my wall and to take long lens pictures of a 13-year-old girl in her bedroom.

I draw the line of privacy at that."

--George Clooney

Vick said all the right things -- like "I won't disappoint," "Playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right," and "You only get one shot at a second chance" -- but he's still got a long way to go to win over the fans of Philly.

Dr. Conrad Murray says he didn't have a clue about Michael Jackson's "very unusual problems" when he signed on to be his doc.

Murray, through his lawyer's publicist, told CNN Dr. Murray didn't know what drugs Jackson was taking or whether he was addicted when he accepted the gig.

And get this ... the publicist says Dr. Murray had no way of knowing, other than accepting Jackson at his word, if he was taking drugs. Remember, we broke the story that dozens of injection sites were found on Jackson's body, including multiple sites on his neck.

TMZ has confirmed cops were called to the couple's Pennsylvania home after the two went ballistic on each other. Cops showed up just before midnight, but no arrests were made. Cops tell us they were called out because of the argument. It's unclear who called 911.

Cops tell us they made quick work of the situation by calming things down ... they were only there for approximately 10 minutes.

Since it's Jon's turn with the kids, Kate kicked rocks -- and checked into the local hotel.

Billy claimed his work for the iCAN benefit group was "the most important product I have ever endorsed" -- but now, 6 weeks after Mays passed away, the company has decided to go another direction.

For the record, the company did get the OK from the family to continue running Billy's ad -- and Billy's son also made the following point on his Twitter page, "When actors die, their movies continue to play, right?"

Antonio's lady -- who you may know as the KTLA TV weekend news anchor -- didn't blow her top. We don't know if anyone at the pool took advantage of the optional top policy.

Mayor Suave was in Vegas for the Clean Energy Summit, but took a cabana break.

The only thing X-rated about Heidi Montag's upcoming Playboy spread is the X-pletive you're going to scream when you realize she's not naked in any of the SIX PAGES of photos.

Sources close to the barely PG-rated photo shoot tell TMZ, the magazine was under strict instructions when shooting Montag -- "No nipples, no vagina, no ass."

Larry King's wife Shawn tells us Usher, Dionne Warwick, Wyclef and Jermaine Jackson are joining Mayer, Richie and Houston in recording a remake of Jacko's "Will You Be There." Shawn, who is spearheading the tribute and sings on it as well, tells us she's not sure if Jennifer Hudson -- who sang the song at Michael's over-the-top memorial last month -- will be involved with the project, as she just gave birth.

The proceeds from the song will be split 50/50 between The Larry King Cardiac Foundation and LaToya Jackson an unspecified charity close to MJ.

*UPDATE: Mayer's rep denies he's a part of the project, saying, "John is currently in the studio working on his upcoming album, this report is false."

Further proof Britney Spears was completely sane during her frantic shopping spree Tuesday afternoon: She spent nearly $3,000 in 15 minutes!!!!

We're told some of the items Brit Brit bought at the Vionnet Boutique in Beverly Hills were...

-- $175 silk lace camisole
-- $345 tourmaline ring
-- $520 total on two lace trim slip dresses
-- $200 aqua & lavender ring
-- $195 tank with lace

One of the outfits (left) she even wore right out of the store.

Unfortunately, one of her purchases was not a new weave.

We now know why we spotted Michael Vick trolling around the Chicago airport -- he's there to howl about the unethical treatment of canines at an event for the Humane Society of the United States.

A rep for the H.S. tells us Vick just spoke at an anti-dog fighting event in the Englewood section of the city -- which will help raise awareness about his efforts to clean up his own image.

If you're sad you missed Vick's speech, don't worry, the H.S. rep tells us it's all a part of his probation and he'll be doing this for "months and years" to come.

An X-rated photo circulating on the web -- which appears to show an exposed Dwight Howard -- is fake, his agency tells TMZ.

In a statement released moments ago, Dwight's people said, "We have been working with our attorneys with mediatakeout.com all morning to get the photos taken down because they are falsified and doctored."

Dude wasn't in the mood to talk when we spotted him at O'Hare Airport in Chi-Town -- but with rumors swirling that he's close to a deal with a mystery NFL team, this footage could be a HUGE clue.