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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview September 21, 2006 Bahamas rethinks need to investigate Anna Nicole Smith's son's death By Jessica Robertson The Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas — Authorities said Wednesday they have overhauled their system for medical inquests and reassigned the coroner handling the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son amid complaints the former reality TV star had gotten special treatment. Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez said that judicial officials decided to change the system so that more judges can preside over inquests in part because of complaints that head coroner Linda Virgill scheduled an Oct. 23 inquest just three days after the death of Daniel Smith. Gomez, in an interview with The Associated Press, said the government began receiving complaints shortly after Virgill announced the date of the inquest to determine whether criminal charges should be filed in the Smith case. "They've been complaining that, 'How is it that this case just came up and a date has been set and our case has been pending for years and we don't have a date yet,'" he told the AP. Gomez also said the Oct. 23 inquest may be canceled if tests show that Smith, 20, died of natural causes while he was visiting his mother after she gave birth to a daughter at a hospital in Nassau. Anna Nicole Smith has been in seclusion in the Bahamas since the death of her son. She was expected to be among the witnesses at the inquest. Under the new system, replacing one that had been in place since 1993, Virgill will now be part of a pool of magistrates who handle death inquests. But she will no longer be involved with the Smith case because of "some remarks she made in the press," Gomez said, declining to elaborate. Virgill did not return telephone calls seeking comment. The chief magistrate said pending toxicology tests may show that the death of Daniel Smith was not suspicious after all — meaning no formal hearing would be needed. "If the results show that the cause of death was natural, then there will be no inquest," he said. Bahamian authorities and a private pathologist hired by the family have said there was no evidence of homicide or that he committed suicide by a drug overdose, but they have not released the cause. The private pathologist, Cyril Wecht, has said Smith was taking a low dose of antidepressants at the time of his death, but that it would take several weeks to complete toxicological tests to determine why he died. Daniel Smith, who appeared several times on the E! reality series "The Anna Nicole Show," was the son of Anna Nicole and Bill Smith, who married in 1985 and divorced two years later. The name of the father of her newborn daughter has not been publicly released. Smith, a former Playboy playmate, married Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994, when she was 26 and he was 89. He died the following year and she has since been involved in legal disputes over the estate. Current Comments: Has she been investigated? Possible motives? Kunda - Maryland - September 21st, 2:12 PM Don't tell me they are not going to investigate her and her scum bag attorney. Anyone else would have been investigated. Too suspicious!!! I think they had something to do with it. Tiffany - Allamuchy, NJ - September 21st, 11:38 PM I think they should leave that poor woman alone. She just gave birth, and now she has to burry her only, and first born son,Hasn't she been threough enough. They have checked that boy and rechecked that and they can't find any miss doings so just leave her alone and let her grieve the death of her child. Trish ( [email protected] ) - Green Bay, WI. - September 22nd, 8:36 AM This woman has had one of the happiest moment of her life tarnished by one of the worst moments of her life. For a parent to bury a child,it is not of the norm, and now the public won't even let her mourn the loss of her son with out accusing her and others of miss doings? Can't people understand that young people die of natural causes too, it's not always drugs that kill them! Please let this woman mourn in peace and give her some respect.She is not a perfect parent, but which of us are? Becky ( [email protected] ) - Green Bay WI. - September 22nd, 8:56 AM This mother have just lost her son, they should let her mourn her lost. The media can convince and destroy. I do not believe a bad nor good mother would like to terminate the life of a child who she decided to give life. Why have him 20 years by your side going through high and low and decide to end those moments.It is so sad that people can be so hard hearted. Anna Nicole loved her son, why, why not leave this lady, my gosh its her son. dorca - paterson, nj - September 22nd, 1:47 PM i agree with the ladies that have taken the time to reply with their comments. i like many other bahamian mothers, feel the pain that anna nicloe is now feeling. i think that its time for the press to leave her alone and let her go on with her life. Anna Nicole the hearts and prayers of the bahamian people are with you at this time. You have become a part of our lives down here and we are not afraid to stand behind those we call our own. may God contuine to bless you. proud bahamian nassau b stephanie e.r. sands - nassau bahamas - September 23rd, 6:08 PM If you had watched this womans show and all of her photos with him you would have seen that she adored him with everything she had, like i do my sons, my husband died at 36 a perfect specimen you would have thought we did not know he had hereditary heart disease that ended his life early........Leave her alone!!!!!!! Susan - Florida - September 26th, 7:36 PM I am the parent of 16 and 18 year old sons, and I really feel her pain. How tragic for her in the same time frame she gave birth to a daughter to have to bury her son. You could see the love between them, I hope they get to the bottom of what killed him, but I assure you it was not her, maybe the lawyer who is supposed to be the father, not wanting to share her money. Julie - Ohio - September 27th, 10:44 PM I do not believe that Anna had anything what so ever to do with the death of her only son. People need to leave that woman alone during this time. Imagine what she is dealing with and the heartache she is going through...JUST LEAVE HER "ALONE"!!!!!!!!!! Patty - Lancaster, Ca. - September 29th, 10:13 AM Why did Anna have a commitment ceremony before burying her only son Daniel? She's greedy, did she give her son M for monetary purposes? robin - Encino,ca - October 12th, 9:02 AM I agree that it is traj Candy - Kewaunee Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.