Michael Will Hide Where Terri Schiavo is Buried From Family

Bioethics | Steven Ertelt | Mar 31, 2005 | 9:00AM | WASHINGTON, DC

Michael Will Hide Where Terri Schiavo is Buried From Family Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31, 2005

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) — Michael Schiavo plans to keep the location of where he will bury Terri Schiavo’s ashes a secret and will prevent Terri’s family from knowing. His brother told the media on Thursday that Terri’s family would show up and cause a spectacle if they found out.

"If Mike knew they would come in peace, he would have no problem with it," Scott Schiavo, Michael Schiavo’s brother, told AP.

A complete autopsy will be performed on Terri’s body by the local county medical examiner’s office. Once that is completed, Michael plans to have Terri’s body cremated and her ashes buried in Pennsylvania.

Scott told the Associated Press the ashes will be buried in a burial plot left to Michael by an aunt and uncle.

"We’ve already said goodbye," Bobby Schindler said when asked about not knowing where his sister would be buried.

Concerning Michael’s latest decision snubbing his family, Bobby said, "He’s been doing this kind of stuff for 15 years. What would make him stop now?"

Terri’s parents fought for years to stop the cremate, citing Terri’s Catholic religious beliefs, and asked Judge George Greer to allow Terri to be buried in Florida, closer to her family. Greer declined both requests.

Terri’s parents and her family did not discuss the burial issue during their remarks to the media following Terri’s death. However, Paul O’Donnell, a Franciscan monk who has been helping the family during the last two weeks, said they would hold a Catholic mass for Terri even though they will not have her body present.

The mass will take place sometime next week.

A spokesman for the Pinellas County medical examiner’s office said Terri’s body would be given to Michael on Friday for the cremation process to begin.

The autopsy on Terri’s body may yield a preliminary look in two to three days but the office will not have final results for two to three weeks.