Michael Jackson's "Leaked" Autopsy Investigated

The much anticipated final autopsy report of Michael Jackson might be issued next week, CNN reported Saturday, July 25, but the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office might have a more pressing problem: Concerns about the "leaked" autopsy report that made front page tabloid news two weeks ago. The Los Angeles County Supervisors Office has taken seriously the vivid descriptions of Michael Jackson's corpse that made their way into British tabloids (most notably The Sun) and have launched a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a full investigation could be necessary. Since Michael Jackson's corpse was in the care of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office at the time and reports indicated that people other than Coroner's Office employees may have seen the actual death certificate, the County Supervisors Office decided that a preliminary inquiry was in order.

Michael Jackson had been dead only four days when gruesome details concerning what the Coroner's Office found and put in their autopsy report was "leaked" to the British tabloid The Sun. There were details of needle marks, emaciation, and nose reconstruction.

But the L. A. County Coroner's Office was quick to attempt to get out in front of the story, denying that there was a "leak" in the Coroner's Office and that the "leaked" autopsy report was not accurate and that "some of it [was] totally false."

The Los Angeles Times reported that Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas stated that his office called the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department after receiving reports that coroner's employees other than those involved in the Jackson death probe (autopsy) had gained access to Michael Jackson's death certificate in the Coroner's Office database.

So how much of The Sun's article on the "leaked" autopsy report was totally false? It was understood that accurate extrapolation from what was already known could account for much of the article's details but just how much of The Sun's "totally false" portion constitutes "some"? And were there details in The Sun's article that should not have been known by anyone outside the investigators and those performing the autopsy?

The Coroner's Office has as yet not determined Michael Jackson's cause of death. They are currently waiting on the results of a toxicology screen in order to make a final determination and issue the final autopsy report.

It is doubtful that a "leaked" autopsy report or details on a death certificate would have a detrimental effect on any criminal charges that might be brought against anyone involved in the death of Michael Jackson. However, it would prove embarrassing for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and could lead to reprimands and terminations of employment for any who may have been involved.

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Sources:

Los Angeles Times
CNN.com