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Covering the ‘King of Pop’
July 1, 2009 - 3:00 PM | by: Adam HousleyLATEST UPDATE
3pm: I just spoke with a contact who has been in the Los Olivos/Neverland Ranch area all of her life and now works in an official capacity.
She says.....
They are still preparing because even If there is no service of any type, they expect thousands of people to come to the area this weekend because of reports that MJ could be buried there. Law enforcement dispatch phone banks in the area are getting a ton of calls from people driving in from all over and looking for guidance and info (not media people).
She tells me, "the road is narrow two-lane to Neverland." She continues, "there no place for a bus to turn around and in some places it couldn't pull over to even allow a car to pass in the other direction."
Officials in Santa Barbara County are still meeting with each other, while doing their best to communicate with reps from the Jackson family. That hasn't been easy.
She says it just doesn't seem like anything big could happen this weekend, because there is too much to do and too many approvals to get in such a short time frame.
They know a ton of activity continues at the ranch, so state and local officials in the area are preparing if not for this weekend, then something very soon.
Again....as we reported yesterday when some news agencies insisted this was going to happen.....the people who need to know are still being kept in the dark and are frustrated and doing their best to prepare for something that may not even happen.
THE STORY
There are few ways to describe covering the death on Micheal Jackson. From bizarre to sad, the last few days have seemed to only spawn a massive amount of rumor, tabloid sources and an outpouring of tributes from fans who still stream down Hayvenhurst Avenue in swealtering valley heat.
They seemingly come from all over and carry everything from flowers and cards, to four-foot purple stuffed gorillas. At times the fans break into song and all take pictures of the massive media compound which stretches for a block along a dusty, dirt shoulder. Here we are penned in by metal barricades erected by the Los Angeles Police Department, but so are the fans across this little two-lane street.
There is so much to say and so many stories. From our affiliate reporter Craig Boswell getting run over by a hit and run driver, to the many fans and of course the odd way in which communication has come from the Jackson family. At some point when I have more time I will attempt to go into more detail.
In the meantime, here are some photos of our coverage and a timeline, in part I sent from my Twitter account.
1. state agencies are annoyed by lack of communication from Jackson family. 1:45pm Tuesaday
2. still covering Jackson. Still no decision. Still hot. Still Encino. 7:54pm Monday
3. is now in Encino live at the Jackson family home. 6:14 PM Jun 27th from mobile web
4. lawyers tell me "helping Dr. Murray through process and the doctor has been and always will Cooperate fully." 12:54 PM Jun 27th from mobile web
5. MJ on camera announcement out front of Coroner's Office in next couple of mins. 11:05 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
6. The LA County Police who protect the morgue have been told the family IS coming tonight and the coroner has asked them to try n do that. 8:19 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
7. investigators surprised to see significant scarring on his face, the first time any of them of course had seen MJ without make-up. 8:18 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
8. MJ's body being kept in its own crypt at the LA morgue under lock so that no pictures of the body will be leaked out. 8:17 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
9. the restaurant across the street from the Coroner's....called Michael J's. weird. 7:24 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
10. here they come. Presser any sec. 3:21 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
11. people driving blaring MJ, media slammed together on sidewalk. Presser soon. 1:06 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
12. coroner will speak at 1:3012:09 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
13. is live in front of the Coroner's Office. Autopsy more than half complete. 10:33 AM Jun 26th from mobile web
14. still hundreds of people out front of Hospital, holding a vigil. We r still live 10:18 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
15. fans are putting flowers, wreaths, etc on the wrong start because Jackson's is currently covered by red carpet for the Bruno premier. 8:09 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
16. LA County Coroner’s case number for Jackson is 2009-04415 6:39 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
17. presser has started. Robbery Homocide assigned due to magnitude of case. 5:58 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
18 They are trying to find alternate location!!! Per UCLA because the auditorium inside isn't big enough. 5:26 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
19. In the moments following MJ's death -- so many people rushed to the Internet, that it practically crashed 4:58 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
20. hospital expected to release a statement in an hour or so.4:50 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
21. live outside hospital where it is a crazy scene in Westwood 4:20 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
22. yes MJ has died #fb3:30 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
23. Elizabeth Taylor being rushed to hospital to say good bye to MJ 3:17 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
24. LAPD source confirms to me that MJ rushed to hospital and not doing good. 2:30 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
25. reports that Michael Jackson may have been ruhed to the hospital. 1:43 PM Jun 25th from mobile web
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