Sounds to me totally illegal and that, once again, minorities are given the shaft.
The coroner could have, with a fresh heart, have sold it for around $100,000 with his connections to hospitals across the country.
It HAS been done......what a perfect situation. A 23 year old drops dead. His heart is not returned after the rest of the organs.
The mother had every right to ask for her COMPLETE son.
This is ghoulish and unfair. I believe Mrs. Picon should file and go to the Supreme Court....A medical detective could check and see how many transplants were done across country on a medical database.
The coroner should also be questioned further for his past. [Portion removed; terms of use]

What would YOU do if you found out the coroner kept part of your dead child's body "to examine" and THEN be given a 'go ahead' to do the indefensible act? I contacted the Los Angeleles Coroner's office and the LA Times and a criminal attorney friend. All of them said there was something odd about this.
ALMANAC is burying this story to protect the coroner, I am sure.
Who bought off the coroner? This is not as complex as a Miss Marple TV drama. It is a hideous affront to the family and mother of the victim who have had to go through hell.

This is a strange case to close so fast.
Especially ending your column with "the county and coroner's office is so sorry for her loss" Levy (Deputy County Council is quoted as saying 23 year old's sudden death was a "It's a tragedy and it's sad".
Well, along with Grant Levy and forensic pathologist Dr.Peter Benson began the autopsy process.
This case is not closed as long as the the opinion of people outside this area are concerned.
I looked in the ALMANAC archives and there is little or no information as to the findings.

It sounds like they took the heart out, then sold it to an in between at Stanford.
It is all about money here. The kid probably just had a seizure.
Sounds fishy to me too.