4 Years After Anna Nicole Smith's Death, Howard K. Stern May Finally Find Some Peace

In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Howard K. Stern said he not only feels vindicated, he also feels Anna Nicole Smith has been vindicated with the dismissal of the drug trial charges that he was previously found guilty of in a jury trial. It's been 4 long years of hell for Mr. Stern, the former boyfriend and attorney of former Playboy model, Anna Nicole Smith, who died in 2007 of an accidental drug overdose.

In life Anna Nicole Smith, the vivacious blonde bombshell always stole the spotlight when she was around. Howard K. Stern seemed to love being by her side during both the good times and the bad. He didn't mind living in the shadow of the former model and reality TV star. They met in 1995 when Stern joined Smith's legal team as she was in a fight for the $800 million estate of her 93 year deceased husband. Stern described Smith as his best friend, lover and mother of my daughter(although it was later proven Stern was the father of Smith's daughter), and she meant everything in the world to him.

Howard K. Stern was facing two conspiracy felony charges along with two of Smith's doctors for illegally providing drugs to her. All pleaded not guilty to the charges. A Los Angeles judge ruled last week that there was no evidence that Stern intended fraud or deception when he got drugs for Anna Nicole Smith under fake names. It was a means of keeping Anna Nicole Smith's privacy intact. The judges dismissal was that of a previous verdict that found Stern guilty. The 4 year legal battle is finally over for Howard K. Stern.

The legal battle may be over for Mr. Stern, but I'm sure the memories of this long sad story will live on forever. Anna Nicole Smith had serious issues with prescription drug medications, although Mr. Stern denies she was a drug addict. After taking too much medication because of the pain she was experiencing, she told ABC news in an interview she had about 10 years ago that she went into a coma. A combination of 9 different prescription drugs is what caused her untimely death in 2007, it was determined.

Smith not only suffered from physical pain, but also mental trauma. The tragic death of her son Daniel from a drug overdose, a mere 3 days after the birth of her daughter Dannielynn brought so much grief to Anna Nicole Smith. A mothers loss that was just too much to bare. I don't feel that Smith was able to recover from this tragedy. It's my opinion that she probably sought relief from a bottle for both this mental anguish as well as her chronic physical pain. In the end, it took her life.

Howard K. Stern was also a parent to Smith's daughter, Dannielynn until Anna Nicole's death. It was determined that he wasn't the biological father and custody of the little girl was given to Larry Birkhead, her biological father. Having to give up this beautiful little girl had to be traumatic for Mr. Stern, I would imagine. He said he keeps in touch with the two and Dannielynn, who is now four, is doing fine.

Mr. Stern said on Good Morning America that now that his legal problems are over, he plans on working as a lawyer again. I wish him well.

Sources: GoodMorningAmerica/1/13/2011
personal opinion