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Playboy model's autopsy conducted Model's corpse to be preserved
(about 2 hours later)
A post mortem examination is being carried out on the body of Anna Nicole Smith, a former Playboy model and widow of an octogenarian oil tycoon. A Los Angeles judge has ordered that the body of former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith be preserved amid a paternity row over her baby daughter.
The 39-year-old was found unconscious in a Florida hotel late on Thursday and could not be resuscitated in hospital. The decision comes as a post mortem examination is being carried out on Ms Smith, 39, who was found unconscious in a Florida hotel on Thursday.
A judge has now ordered that Smith's body be preserved until a hearing on a paternity row over her young daughter. The judge ordered her body be kept until a hearing into the paternity of her baby daughter later this month.
The model spent much of the past decade in the limelight in a bitter feud over tycoon Howard Marshall II's will. Ms Smith's partner and a former boyfriend both say they are the father.
Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, said she believed drugs could have played a role in her daughter's death. The judge declined a request from the ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, for a DNA sample to be immediately taken from Ms Smith's body to verify his claim.
Larry Birkhead, a former boyfriend who says he is the father of Smith's five-month-old daughter has filed an emergency motion seeking DNA from the body of the former model to verify his claim. Mr Birkhead's lawyer Debra Opri said the DNA was needed to connect Ms Smith with the infant "so that no-one can switch the babies", the Associated Press news agency reported.
Howard Stern, the model's lawyer and partner, says he is the father. Howard Stern, the model's lawyer and partner, also says he is the father.
Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel, died days after the girl's birth. Ms Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel, died days after the girl's birth.
'Too many drugs''Too many drugs'
The autopsy began shortly after 0900 local time (1400 GMT) at Broward County medical examiner's office in Florida.The autopsy began shortly after 0900 local time (1400 GMT) at Broward County medical examiner's office in Florida.
Dr Joshua Perper, who is performing the autopsy, said if Smith had not died of natural causes the findings of the post mortem examination would not be immediately announced. Dr Joshua Perper, who is performing the autopsy, said if Ms Smith had not died of natural causes the findings of the post mortem examination would not be immediately announced.
"I am not a prophet, and I cannot tell you before the autopsy what I am going to find," Mr Perper said."I am not a prophet, and I cannot tell you before the autopsy what I am going to find," Mr Perper said.
Obituary: Anna Nicole Smith A life in picturesObituary: Anna Nicole Smith A life in pictures
Meanwhile, Mrs Arthur said she believed her daughter was abusing drugs. Meanwhile, Ms Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, said she believed drugs could have played a role in her daughter's death.
"I think she had too many drugs," she told ABC television."I think she had too many drugs," she told ABC television.
"I tried to warn her about the drugs and the people she hung around She didn't listen. She was too drugged up. The last interview I saw of her, she was so wasted," Mrs Arthur said."I tried to warn her about the drugs and the people she hung around She didn't listen. She was too drugged up. The last interview I saw of her, she was so wasted," Mrs Arthur said.
But Smith's lawyer, Ron Rale, told NBC that she "sounded fine" when he had talked to her recently. But Ms Smith's lawyer, Ron Rale, told NBC that she "sounded fine" when he had talked to her recently.
"She's been obviously grieving still over Daniel and depressed but I didn't have any indication that she was on any medication or sedation," he said."She's been obviously grieving still over Daniel and depressed but I didn't have any indication that she was on any medication or sedation," he said.
Courtroom battlesCourtroom battles
Smith was born Vicki Lynn Hogan in Mexia, Texas, on 28 Nov 1967. Ms Smith was born Vicki Lynn Hogan in Mexia, Texas, on 28 Nov 1967.
A former topless dancer, she achieved considerable success as a model.A former topless dancer, she achieved considerable success as a model.
She was named Playboy's playmate of the year in 1993 and secured a lucrative contract with Guess Jeans.She was named Playboy's playmate of the year in 1993 and secured a lucrative contract with Guess Jeans.
In 1994, she married the 89-year-old Howard Marshall II after he repeatedly proposed to her. In 1994, she married 89-year-old oil tycoon Howard Marshall II after he repeatedly proposed to her.
His death just 14 months later triggered a long feud with his family over the inheritance of his estate which saw Smith make regular courtroom appearances. His death just 14 months later triggered a long feud with his family over the inheritance of his estate which saw Ms Smith make regular courtroom appearances.