Estate Planning

Famous People That Cannot R.I.P.

By Hull and Hull LLP

Everyone likes gossip. For those who place themselves in the public spotlight their privacy is constantly invaded, even after death. In an article entitled, 'Dead People Science Won't Let R.I.P.', Joseph Calamia looks at famous people whose buried bodies have been exhumed. 

Bodies are exhumed for numerous reasons such as to determine the cause of death, to answer historical questions, or identify the deceased, if he or she was either not identified or misidentified at the time of burial.

I found Mr. Calamia's article to be a little creepy, but nonetheless interesting. For instance, archaeologists discovered Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 and subsequently learned that the 19-year-old pharaoh 'wasn't exactly the model of health.' Egyptian researchers learned from genetic testing 'that inbreeding and disease may have left King Tut so crippled that he could barely walk.'

In an article entitled, 'Michael Jackson's Body Might Be Exhumed', it has been suggested that Dr. Conrad Murray's legal team may be considering exhuming Michael's body to suggest that an overdosing of propofol was the least of Michael's health concerns. 

It appears that even after death, there is no expectation of privacy for some. After numerous attempts were made to snatch the body of former U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, it was decided that Lincoln's coffin would rest in steel and concrete. Whatever happened to rest in peace?

Have a good weekend,

Rick Bickhram

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on February 11, 2011 (boomark / email).