Daniel Smith's second autopsy inconclusive

Sep 18, 2006, 14:28 GMT

An expert hired by Anna Nicole Smith to perform a second autopsy on her dead son has returned an inconclusive verdict.

Cyril Wecht, a Pittsburgh-based forensic pathologist, carried out the examination on Sunday (17.09.06) in the Bahamas.

Daniel Smith, 20, was found dead on a chair while visiting his mother in a hospital situated on the Caribbean island last week, three days after she gave birth to his baby sister.

Wecht - who has previously worked on investigations into the deaths of Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy - ruled out a number of potential natural causes, including heart disease, cancer, systemic infection or a pulmonary embolism.

Wecht also concurred with medical experts who carried out the initial autopsy last week that foul play was not suspected.

He said: "I find nothing to suggest to me any kind of foul play.

"I think that we have a tragic death of a young man and ultimately the cause is going to be determined."

Wecht added it could take weeks to determine a cause and he has taken more samples for toxicology tests.

Anna Nicole's attorney, Michael Scott, who accompanied Wecht to the autopsy, said: "Anna Nicole is doing well, she is getting better and wants everyone to stop jumping to conclusions."

Last week, Bahamian government officials revealed they were treating Daniel's death as "suspicious".

Daniel's body has been released to a funeral home in Nassau, before it is returned to California.

A jury inquest is scheduled for October 23.

(C) BANG Media International