Michael Jackson Drug Picture

Authorities On Hunt For Propofol with Murray

aw enforcement was on the hunt for evidence of Propofol when they searched Dr. Conrad Murray's home and office in Las Vegas.

According to the search warrant, authorities were looking for, among other things, "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of PROPOFOL."

Interestingly, in the Houston raid, authorities wanted a Rolodex card with FedEx information.

Jackson Autopsy Delayed

Jackson Autopsy Delayed

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Jackson Death Probe Zeroes In on Source of Drugs

The investigative team heading the probe into Michael Jackson’s death conducted interviews with physicians and personnel at medical facilities in Las Vegas on Monday, a law enforcement source close to the investigation .

Lead investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery and Homicide Division, along with several field agents from the Los Angeles Drug Enforcement Administration office, took a day trip to Las Vegas to follow up on leads indicating that at least one drug believed to have contributed to Jackson’s sudden death on June 25 originated in Las Vegas.

what drug was the focus of the probe, who was questioned or which medical practices were visited, but Jackson’s personal physician Conrad Murray runs a cardiology practice in Las Vegas.

Joe Jackson: There are no plans for Michael Jackson's children to become the 'Jackson 3'

Joe Jackson has no plans to take Michael Jackson's grieving kids on the road as the "Jackson 3," the family patriarch vowed Monday.

"I'm not encouraging them to do nothing. They have to be what they are, kids at the moment," he said on "Larry King Live," distancing himself from earlier statements that he saw star quality in the youngsters.

He called the "Jackson Three" rumor "a bunch of jive."

Jackson also denied ever hitting his late son, despite Michael's accusations to the contrary.

"I never abused my son," the former crane operator and boxer from Gary, Indiana, said. "Michael was never beaten."

In his first live interview since his son's sudden death of a suspected drug overdose, Jackson backed away from earlier comments to ABC that he wanted to help raise Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, so they could "grow up to be strong Jacksons."

"I keep watching Paris…she wants to do something," he previously told ABC. "And Blanket, he can really dance."

Joe revealed he didn't know the locaton of Michael's body, said he hadn't seen any results from the family's private autopsy and repeated his claim that he suspected "foul play" in Michael's death.

He again pointed the finger at Dr. Conrad Murray, the personal physician who found his superstar son unconscious and with only a faint pulse in bed on June 25. Investigators later found prescription drugs and the surgery-strength sedative propofol in the King of Pop's house.

Murray's lawyer has said nothing the doctor gave Jackson "should have" caused his death.

"The doctor gave him something to make him rest and he don't wake up no more," Joe Jackson said on Larry King. "Something is wrong."

Speaking about his grandchildren, Jackson was quick to point out that he lives in Vegas while the kids are at home in Encino, Calif., with his wife Katherine, their temporary court-appointed guardian.

Joe Jackson's influence on the kids is an issue for Michael's ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who is considering a bid for custody, a source told the Daily News.

Rowe is the biological mother to the two eldest kids and wants to take an active roles in their lives, her friend and former attorney Iris Finsilver said Monday, also appearing on Larry King Live.

"She would like to have a relationship with her children," Finsilver said, citing recent conversations with Rowe. "I don't know if she wants everyday hands on custody with the kids."

A source earlier told the Daily News that Joe Jackson was willing to step aside if it would help Katherine's bid to gain permanent guardianship.

Michael Jackson movie in works

A Hollywood movie made using footage of Michael Jackson rehearsing for his planned series of comeback concerts could hit theaters by the end of this year, US media reports said Monday.

Daily Variety reported that Sony Pictures studio was close to agreeing a 50-million-dollar deal for worldwide rights to nearly 80 hours of footage showing pop icon Jackson rehearsing before his death.

The report said AEG Entertainment, the company which owns the material and had been behind Jackson's proposed series of concerts in London, had screened the footage to Hollywood studio executives last week.

Variety reported that Kenny Ortega, the choreographer for Jackson's new "This Is It" concerts and the director of hit film "High School Musical," was expected to direct the movie.

So far only a brief snippet of Jackson's concert rehearsals have been revealed to the public.

Footage released on July 2 showed Jackson practicing a song-and-dance routine at Los Angeles's Staples Center two days before his death, supporting accounts he had been in good health.

Associates of Jackson have described the 50-year-old pop star as being in good form, including at another rehearsal the day before his death.

Michael Jackson Doctor Declines to Chat with Cops

We've learned Dr. Conrad Murray canceled an interview with the LAPD.As we have already reported, the LAPD is treating Michael Jackson's death as a homicide. Detectives have their sights set on Murray, as the person who may have administered the drug Propofol, which we're told is the primary cause of Jackson's death.We're told the LAPD planned a third interview with Dr. Murray earlier in the week -- the doctor was interviewed the day Jackson died and again two days later. Reps from the L.A. County Coroner's office planned to attend the third interview, but we're told Dr. Murray's lawyer called and said the doctor would not be speaking to the cops at this time. And here's the best part. Our sources say the cops called the lawyer back and they were referred to the lawyer's lawyer who said Dr. Murray's lawyer would not be speaking to them!

Jackson Sings About Escapism On Previously Unreleased Song

A clip of a previously unreleased Michael Jackson song has hit the net, and it feels eerie.

In the song "A Place With No Name," the late King of Pop sings about his desire to travel to a mysterious locale: "Take me to a place without no name."

It is not clear when the song was recorded or if it is referring to a heaven-like utopia or a remote getaway.

The 25-second snippet obtained by TMZ is an interpolation of America's song "A Horse With No Name" that reached Number 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972.

Years ago, America's manager reportedly approved Michael's "A Place With No Name."

Jim Morey, America's current manager who also represented Michael in the late '80s and early '90s, told TMZ that the band supported Michael's rendition. "The band was honored that Michael chose to do their song and they hope it becomes available for all Michael's fans to hear."

Michael Jackson's final resting place a mystery

Jul 9, 2009 5:00 am PDT

Michael Jackson's glimmering casket took center stage at the Staples Center, sitting for more than two hours as celebrities memorialized the King of Pop under the watchful eyes of millions. And when the ceremony was over, it was gone.

By law, the golden casket that presumably held Jackson's body should be exactly where his death certificate says it is: back at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery, the site of a private family memorial service held before the Staples ceremony. Los Angeles County records show the cemetery as the temporary location, where it must stay until those records are officially updated.

But where Jackson's body will eventually be laid to rest remained a mystery, fed by the same level of rumor and speculation that surrounded much of his life. Will he be interred at Forest Lawn? Is Neverland Ranch still a possibility?

What if he's not buried at all, but cremated? The family isn't talking — and may not even have decided yet.

The casket was first seen leaving the mortuary at Forest Lawn, where it got into a hearse for the 10-mile trip to the Staples Center. But before the service even started, the hearse was seen leaving the facility — empty — and wasn't spotted again.

But to keep in good standing with the law, the casket would have needed to return to Forest Lawn at some point, presumably after the crowds went home and the television cameras were long gone.

Robert J. Biggins, a former president of the National Funeral Directors Association, said Jackson's body is likely in his casket which he identified it as a custom-made, top-of-the-line coffin made by the Indiana-based Batesville Casket Company that is called a "Promethean." The casket is probably in a temporary holding area — perhaps a mausoleum — pending a final location, he said.

"This happened so quickly that it's something that has to have an awful lot of thoughtful consideration," said Biggins, who is the owner of Magoun-Biggins Funeral home in Rockland, Mass. "This is bigger than your average burial."

Conjecture about Jackson's final resting place has been as fraught as the rumors about where his memorial service would be held in the days before the Staples Center was announced. His 5-page will, signed in 2002, does not include final wishes for his body.

Forest Lawn is one likely possibility. If Jackson is buried there, he would join other celebrities such as Liberace, Gene Autry, Bette Davis and Andy Gibb. Recently deceased actor David Carradine and "Tonight Show" sidekick Ed McMahon also are buried there.

The Jackson family seems divided over whether the body should go to Neverland, which would surely turn the Santa Barbara County ranch into a West-coast Graceland. But Jackson abandoned the 2,500-acre estate after going into seclusion following his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, and many of the things that made it unique — the merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and zoo — are gone.

Billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, has expressed an openness to the idea of having the singer's body buried at the ranch. The family would need to get permission from local land-use officials to bury Jackson on private property, then submit an application and paperwork with the state Cemetery and Funeral Bureau.

The state application would then need to be approved by the funeral board, a process that could take anywhere from seven to 30 days.

Beyond that, accessibility remains an issue at Neverland. A single two-lane highway leads to the property about 130 miles north of Los Angeles, and infrastructure changes would likely be necessary to accommodate the additional traffic.

Another possibility is cremation. State law requires that the person who has control of the cremated remains obtain written permission of the property owner or governing agency to scatter on the property.

Funeral experts said the delay in Jackson's funeral may be due to the fact that such celebrity deaths create logistical, security and legal headaches.

"One of the issues you're going to run into with any high-profile name, whether it be a former president of the United States or somebody of Michael Jackson's stature, is what does the cemetery — if it's to be a burial — do to establish security, to protect the remains, to protect the privacy of the family during the service, to protect remains afterward and what kind of built-in overhead comes with it," said Paul Elvig, former president of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association.

Experts said even a two-week delay between death and funeral is not unusual. The body of singer James Brown was kept in a sealed gold casket inside his South Carolina home for more than two months before being interred in 2007 at the home of one of his daughters.

"You're probably talking more about an impatient public and an impatient press wanting to know what's going to happen and that impatience needs to be understood," Elvig said. "If a body's been properly prepared by an embalmer, it can be held for a considerable period of time with minor touchups to it."

Biggins said he is even encouraged by the delay.

"I think the fact that there's this pause is a wonderful thing because it's being given thoughtful consideration," he said, "to make sure this is done right and this is done in a way that honors his legacy."

Source : AP

Michael Jackson Memorial Fit For A King

The build-up to the event promised to make it one of the biggest spectacles ever televised-but seeing Michael's brothers push his 24-karat gold casket down the aisle as a choir sang the gospel hymn "Soon and Very Soon" sent a message that the memorial would be treated as an intimate funeral even though there were some 20,000 in attendance.

Family, friends, and fans memorialized Michael Jackson in a two-hour ceremony held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, officially settling any debate over whether he was truly the King of Pop. Despite the star-studded roster of speakers such as sister Janet, Mariah Carey, Usher, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, and Kobe Bryant, the tribute never came off as artificial. Instead, it was an often-touchingly sincere celebration of life.

Viewers were drawn with emotion when Jermaine Jackson took to the stage to perform his brother's favorite song, "Smile." The elder Jackson wept as he struggled through the song originally recorded by Charlie Chaplin.

When Stevie Wonder sang "They Won't Go When I Go," he amended part of the lyric in Michael's honor. "Michael, they won't go where you've gone," Stevie sang.

Usher was one of the most visibly moved performers as he delivered a chilling rendition of Michael's "Gone Too Soon." Usher frequently sang directly to Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, and knelt before her when he finished.

One of the most surprisingly sincere tributes of the morning was John Mayer's acoustic interpretation of Michael's "Human Nature." Mayer offered minimalistic vocals, mainly offering the song as a touching instrumental.

The ceremony closed with two even more powerful gestures. Lionel Richie kicked off his and Michael's pleas for global peace, "We Are the World" and "Heal the World," joined by background singers and dancers from Michael's comeback tour "This Is It" that was scheduled to begin next week. Michael's middle child, daughter Paris, 11, accompanied her aunts and uncles on stage to convey her love for her late father.

Motown founder Berry Gordy, The Reverend Al Sharpton, Pastor Luscious Smith, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. children Martin Luther King III and Bernice King were among those who offered uplifting speeches about Michael's legacy.

Millions Remember Michael Jackson Online

While entertainment luminaries and thousands of fans gathered today at Los Angeles' Staples Center to remember Michael Jackson, millions more converged online to watch the memorial service live and post comments on Facebook and Twitter.

On Twitter, Jackson's memory dominated the conversation. According to social media site Mashable, during the service, tweets related to Jackson occupied all 10 slots on the list of trending Twitter topics. "MJ Memorial" and #michaeljackson were two of the most tweeted terms, but users also discussed the performers and presenters at the service.

The partnerships with Ustream and CBS, viewers could watch the video of the event while tweeting. But, as Twitter has done in the past, it shut down a few times during the Webcast, giving users a page with the notorious "fail whale."

Los Angeles Prepares for Michael Jackson Memorial

In the same Los Angeles arena where he rehearsed for the ill-fated "This Is It" tour, Michael Jackson will be remembered on Tuesday by a bevy of luminaries paying their final homage to the globally celebrated star. Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Usher, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder have all been announced as performers who will help bid Jackson farewell at L.A.'s Staples Center in a ceremony that will be broadcast live on all major networks and many cable channels as well as streamed live on websites from Myspace to MTV.com. Brooke Shields, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton are also expected to take part.
Some family members and close friends have been ambivalent about the event. After originally being scheduled to appear at the Staples memorial, Deborah Rowe, the mother of two of Jackson's children, said in a statement that she had changed her mind and would be absent since she felt her appearance would be "an unnecessary distraction." Another Jackson fixture — long-time friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor — took to her Twitter page on Monday to announce a similar sentiment. "I cannot be part of the public whoopla," Taylor said. "I just don't believe Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event." On Monday night, Jackson family members, including his sister Janet and close friends such as long-time hairstylist Karen Faye, attended a private viewing at the Forest Lawn Cemetery.

But over a 1.5 million regular folks from around the world were more than happy to join in, entering a random drawing for a seat at the memorial. On Sunday, 8,750 of them received word that they had defied the odds and had won two tickets. No tickets went on sale for the event. Ticket holders began arriving at Dodgers Stadium at 6 a.m. on Monday to pick up their tickets in a daylong procedure which saw more than 600 cars were arriving each hour for credentials. To ensure that only the winners would attend the show, concert officials literally placed a wristband on people's arms upon arrival. "It's a deterrent against scalping," said one official.

The online auction site Ebay, a popular venue for people to sell off coveted tickets like these to the highest bidder, also announced it would remove any postings concerning Michael Jackson memorial tickets in an effort to combat scalpers. On the site Monday night, the only items available under "Michael Jackson Memorial" were t-shirts. Still, organizers admitted they couldn't completely stop the blatant profiteering. "For those who take advantage of this," promoter AEG's CEO TIm Leiweke said last week, "Shame on you." (See pictures of Jackson's Neverland Ranch.)

That doesn't mean the ticketless crowds won't try to soak up the atmosphere of Jackson's big send off. Los Angeles officials braced for an onslaught of visitors to the Staples Center vicinity and other locations. Streets surrounding the area were closed off entirely at midnight on Monday, and city officials advised those without a ticket to stay at home. "There will not be anything to see," LA's acting mayor Jan Perry told TIME. "This is a private event on private property."

While Perry works the command center to ensure what she hopes will be a "peaceful, well-run, seamless operation," she and her colleagues will also have to come up with an answer to how the cash-strapped City of Los Angeles will eventually foot the event's large public bill. The council-woman would not hazard a guess of what the memorial would cost the city, but did use the last month's Laker Pride parade as a yardstick, which was estimated to run a tab of around $2 million. Other estimates listed the Jackson total price-tag at $2.5 million.

Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home

AP, Jul 3, 2009 5:36 pm PDT

The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer's memorial service.

Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home.

The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.

A Los Angeles Police spokesman, Lt. John Romero, declined to discuss the case. "It's an ongoing investigation," he said.

The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

At the downtown Staples Center, where Jackson's memorial will be held Tuesday morning, Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger said anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000 people could try to reach the arena, even though only 17,500 tickets will be available.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. There will not be a funeral procession through the city.

Tickets to Jackson's memorial service will be free. They can be obtained by registering at Staplescenter.com. There will be 11,000 tickets for seats inside Staples Center and 6,500 for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans can watch a simulcast. On Saturday night, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each.

No details about the memorial service itself were released.

Jackson was known to have suffered from severe insomnia. In the weeks before his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who was working with the singer, said Jackson pleaded for Diprivan amid the stress of preparing for a massive series of comeback concerts.

Lee said she repeatedly rejected his demands because the drug was unsafe.

Told Friday that Diprivan had been found at Jackson's house, she said, "I did everything I could to warn him against it."

Jackson had trouble sleeping as far back as 1989, said one of his former publicists, Rob Goldstone, who spent a month on the road with Jackson during the "Bad" tour.

"He had very bad nightmares, he found it very difficult to sleep," Goldstone said.

Diprivan, which has a milky appearance, is sometimes nicknamed "milk of amnesia." Last fall, doctors from the Mayo Clinic warned at a conference that in rare cases, Diprivan can trigger an irreversible chain of events leading to heart dysfunction and death.

They said three patients receiving Diprivan to treat severe seizures had suffered cardiac arrest, and two died. The doctors said the clinic stopped using Diprivan to treat such patients because of the danger.

The drug's manufacturer, AstraZeneca PLC, warns that patients using Diprivan should be continuously monitored, and in a tiny number of cases patients using it have suffered cardiac arrest, although it was not clear the drug was to blame.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, said Friday through a spokeswoman that he had agreed with investigators not to comment until information is released through official channels. Murray was in Jackson's rented mansion when the singer went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom on June 25.

Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect. In an earlier interview, Chernoff said Murray never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave the pop star drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff would not discuss what drugs the doctor administered to Jackson, but said they would have been prescribed in response to a specific complaint.

Video shows vigorous Jackson before death

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – A video released Thursday showed Michael Jackson vigorously practicing a song-and-dance routine days before his death, supporting accounts he had been in good health.
In footage obtained by AFP, the pop legend performed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 23, two days before he died, as he prepared for a 50-date set in London starting in July.
Jackson, while thin, is seen dancing with energy in a tightly choreographed sequence with a group of performers. Jackson sings on a headset and at one point pushes back his jacket to reveal his red shirt underneath.
In the footage, Jackson switches sharply in styles in a medley of some of his hits. The video starts with Jackson dancing wildly in front of a rock 'n' roll guitarist before a pause for dramatic effect.
Jackson then shifts to a snippet of "Billie Jean," one of his greatest hits, before singing, "They Don't Care About Us," one of his most controversial tracks in which he brought in a hip-hop influence.
The set ends with a sample of a car horn. The stage then fades to black as an outside voice instructs, "Hold for applause."
Associates of Jackson have described the 50-year-old pop star as being in good form, including at another rehearsal just hours before his death.
Jackson collapsed and died on June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion. Speculation has focused on whether Jackson was taking painkillers or other medication.
Jackson's voice coach Dorian Holley said Jackson was in an upbeat mood in the days before his death, joking around with his wardrobe and makeup staff.
"My friends call and ask, 'Was Michael sick? Was he weak? Was he ill?' It's the absolute opposite of that," Holley told CNN.
"He was very energetic, he was happy. He was even more playful than he normally was at rehearsal," he said.
Holley said Jackson, 50, did not show his age.
"I'm sure that he was in pain after some rehearsals. But I got to tell you something -- the guys and girls dancing with him were all in their 20s," he said.
"When Michael was on stage with them, there was only one person that you could watch and that was Michael Jackson," he said.
A similar account came from Kevin Mazur, who was attending the rehearsal sessions as a photographer.
"He was like an expectant father pacing up and down the stage," Mazur told Britain's Sun tabloid.
"He was just so focused. Between songs, he burst into laughter and joked around with his dancers and the director. I have never seen him so happy," Mazur said.
Jackson had planned a series of concerts at London's O2 Arena starting on July 13, part of a comeback for the King of Pop whose personal and financial life had sharply deteriorated in the past decade.
Concert promoters AEG Live, who released the video, are offering full ticket refunds for the concerts.
British media reports said about 50 million pounds (59 million euros, 83 million dollars) has been spent on 750,000 tickets.

Who Get What ?

We've learned who's getting what in Michael Jackson's trust. Here's how it breaks down.

Katherine Jackson will get 40% of the assets.Michael's 3 kids will get another 40%.And the remaining 20% goes to several children's charities. We're told the charities have not been designated yet and are not specified in the trust.We've also learned the California Attorney General is filing legal papers right now in the probate case -- the docs relate to the charitable gifts. The A.G. regulates charities in California.A lawyer for the A.G.'s office will be in court at the next hearing.

Michael Jackson's $25,000 Custom Casket

$25,000, solid bronze, 14-karat gold plated, custom casket has been ordered for Michael Jackson.The casket -- ordered last night from Batesville Casket Company -- is called a Promethean and will feature a flame blue velvet interior and a hand-polished, mirror finish.This is the same casket used to bury James Brown... and is extremely rare.

Plan to bury Michael Jackson at Neverland fizzles

LOS ANGELES – A plan to bury Michael Jackson at his sprawling Neverland ranch fizzled Wednesday, leaving details about his funeral undecided as another mystery was solved: His newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.

The investigation into the singer's death, meanwhile, deepened late Wednesday when the Drug Enforcement Administration was asked to step in by the Los Angeles Police Department, a law enforcement official in Washington told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The changing funeral circumstances thwarted many Jackson fans who had descended on the estate in the rolling hills near Santa Barbara with the hope of attending a public viewing.

"We're terribly disappointed," said Ida Barron, 44, who arrived with her husband Paul Barron, 56, intending to spend several days in a tent.

"We were going to listen to music and watch Michael Jackson DVDs and party all night long, not just to have fun, but in memory of Michael Jackson," Paul Barron said. "Now we're going to have to just go home."

Jackson's 7-year-old will, filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his 79-year-old mother Katherine and his children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the current value of his estate at more than $500 million.

Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian, with entertainer Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross introduced the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and was instrumental in launching their career.

Meanwhile, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works for Jackson but wouldn't be held at Neverland. In addition, it appeared more likely that a funeral and burial would take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told the AP.

But the person, who is not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, said nothing was planned for Neverland, at least through Friday.

The person said billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch. But the person says it's a complicated process and it couldn't be done for a burial this week.

"The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service" will take place, the person said.

Heavy construction equipment and workers were seen passing through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland on Tuesday. It wasn't clear what they were doing. The property is about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland — nestled in wine country — became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death.

In Los Angeles, Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. In a statement, they said the most important element of the will was Jackson's steadfast desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the statement said.

The will doesn't name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate.

The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.

Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for the executors, told Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients are the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper."

Judge Beckloff urged attorneys from both sides to try to reach a compromise.

"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.

The will, dated July 7, 2002, gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Details of the trust will not be made public.

The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities."

Jackson owns a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Jackson was recently in shaky financial health. In the most detailed account yet of the singer's tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007.

Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. Debbie Rowe was the mother of the two oldest children; the youngest was born to a surrogate mother, who has never been identified.

Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship Monday. A judge held off on requests to control the children's estates.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later, surrendered her parental rights. An appeals court later found that was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006.

Neither Rowe nor her attorneys have indicated whether she intends to seek custody of the two oldest children.

Michael Jackson's Body Heading For Neverland

We've just learned Michael Jackson's body is set to be driven to Neverland Ranch late Thursday morning.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ upwards of a 30 car motorcade -- including Jackson's body -- will be traveling from Los Angeles to Neverland at 10 AM on Thursday.

We're told law enforcement is currently meeting to discuss security and traffic control. Our sources say plans are in the works for a public viewing to take place on either Friday or Saturday.