In “A Question of Murder,” the true crime book that gives an insider view of the death investigations of Daniel Smith, his mother Anna Nicole Smith, and others, famed forensic pathologist and lawyer Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, and his coauthor Dawna Kaufmann, reveals facts never disclosed before.

The following is a brief summary of Wecht’s take on the case — but you’ll want to get a copy of the book and savor it yourself.

In September 2006, Howard K. Stern and Michael Scott, at that time Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer, placed a conference call to Dr. Wecht, asking him to perform a second autopsy on Daniel Smith. Wecht agreed, as long as it was understood that he would report his findings to them—even if they were not the findings they had hoped for—and that his report would be made public. With Stern and Scott’s assurance, Wecht flew to the Bahamas.

Wecht had noticed that coroner’s representative Linda Virgill had been in the media, feeding the frenzy that Howard K. Stern was a suspect for having harmed Daniel, his girlfriend’s 20-year-old son. It was time for Wecht to learn for himself why the lad died.

In Nassau, Bahamas Dr. Wecht met with Stern; Anthony McKinney Michael Scott and his associate Tracy Ferguson; and Wayne Munroe at a local beach club after being checked into the Atlantis, one of the Caribbean’s premier resorts. Wecht spent a lengthy brunch getting their background on Daniel, Anna Nicole and Stern. Stern said that Daniel had lost 25 pounds during the summer of 2006 and that he and Anna were alarmed. Stern gave a general rundown of the boy’s health, including hospitalizations, but there was no mention of Daniel having ever had a Valium addiction. When Daniel had arrived in Nassau to meet his baby sister and see him mom again, he was so excited he practically ran into the hospital room, according to Stern.

The book discusses Stern’s financial dealings with various magazines and TV shows, which Wecht felt was common practice in the entertainment industry and good business. Photo shoots of newborns and happy families always command a top price, Wecht explains.

Howard K. Stern describes the minute-by-minute events in Anna Nicole’s hospital room during Daniel’s visit. Smith only drank water or juice, as she had never developed a taste for carbonated drinks, it was reported.

Everything seemed great, although Daniel Smith once wondered aloud why he was so tired. Howard told Wecht that the comment later haunted him.

Nassau medical examiner Dr. Raju, with whom Wecht had worked previously on other cases, performed Daniel’s primary autopsy. He welcomed his friend Wecht and together they assessed the young man’s body once more, comparing notes. They looked at his stomach contents, but there was nothing noteworthy there, such as undigested pills or capsules. As Wecht worked, he made notes which have never been reported elsewhere.

Raju had attributed Daniel’s cause of death as “accidental multiple drug toxicity,” and Wecht concurred. Raju had sent tissue samples to LabCorp, an excellent basic toxicology lab in Tampa, Florida. When the results came back, Daniel was found to have had methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro in his system at death. All three were of a high therapeutic level but the combination of the three was what sent him into a fatal downward spiral.

SSuicide was ruled out because of, among other reasons, the open joy Daniel had shown with his new baby sister, “This family that should have been looking forward to the approaching holidays together, instead of having one of them dead and the others left to defend themselves against baseless charges,” Wecht wrote.

With suicide eliminated, murder, accidental death, or undetermined were the other options for manner of death. Dr. Cyril Wecht would have his own independent toxicology tests conducted with a separate lab, before he could assert how and why Daniel expired.

Dr. Wecht sent his own samples, collected during Daniel’s second autopsy, to the National Medical Services lab in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. In Wecht’s opinion, NMS is the premier forensic toxicology experts in the U.S., if not the world.

Following Daniel’s procedure, Dr. Cyril Wecht was met outside the morgue in the Bahamas by a barrage of media, consisting of reporters and camera crews. With Stern’s permission Wecht held an impromptu press conference, with attorneys Scott and Ferguson also present. In more than four decades of doing this work, Wecht had never seen such a constant and intense barrage of news media inquires, at the scene and for weeks to come.

After the press conference Dr. Wecht was driven to Horizons. He saw happy family photos adorning the walls, in sharp contrast to the red-rimmed eyes of Howard Stern and Anna, with whom Wecht had a touching and interesting exchange. Before she returned to her bedroom, Anna squeezed Wecht’s hand and thanked him for examining her son. “I don’t know how this happened,” Anna sobbed. “Daniel was a good boy — he wasn’t into drugs.”

The people at Horizons gave Dr. Wecht a good overview about who Daniel was and his relationship with his mother and Stern.

Later, still at Horizons, Wecht had a phone conversation with Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, who was both Anna Nicole and Daniel’s doctor. Kapoor confirmed that he had prescribed methadone for a then-pregnant Anna because it was safe for a fetus, but he had never prescribed that drug to Daniel.

When Dr. Cyril Wecht returned to the states, he saw that public interest in Daniel’s demise was still raging. Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren led a panel where talking heads suggested there had been foul play. Wecht marveled that so many people had opinions, without having seen the toxicology results yet.

Wecht spends a fair amount of time discussing how Daniel might have come to ingest the drugs that killed him. Both Stern and Anna Nicole said they did not furnish the pills, so where did Daniel get the medicine, who prescribed it to him, and why?

Over the next several weeks, Dr. Wecht continued to appear on TV shows to discuss this case, always with Stern’s blessing — but by no means did Stern have input on what Dr. Wecht would say.

Coauthor Dawna Kaufmann describes playing for private eye Jack Harding the video clip of Anna Nicole inviting Daniel to visit her in the Bahamas. This fresh insight is also exclusive to the book and fascinating to read. Harding tells of his encounters with Daniel, asking for the P.I.’s help in saving his mother.

Multiple sources—from Harding, to Anna’s mother Virgie Arthur to former pals and employees—have said Stern controlled Anna and doled out drugs to her every four hours. This book analyzes ever person’s commentary and their possible motivations.

Dr. Cyril Wecht says he received at least 20 phone calls from Stern, at all hours of the day and night, making specific requests, seeking information and urging the doctor to communicate with the toxicology labs and various people. Stern seemed to be aware of every comment about the case on every cable TV news program and in every magazine and newspaper, and appreciated Wecht’s skill in getting across accurate information in those sometimes fast-talking, sound-bite environments.

Drs. Raju and Wecht spoke frequently via their respective offices in Nassau and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while awaiting the final toxicology results. There’s some charming personal information about how these two expert medical detectives viewed the media storm surrounding this case.

On Nancy Grace’s Cable Headline News’ program, information was given as fact that was later disproved by toxicology reports. But Grace’s show wasn’t the only one where wild speculation occurred. Wecht talks about watching many of them and wondering if they were more vested in promoting an agenda, rather than following the facts.

Dr. Wecht has many cogent observations about Virgie Arthur and her clear pain over losing a beloved grandchild and fearing for her daughter’s well-being. And Wecht gives rich details about his views of Stern, whose sincerity seemed genuine. Of course, Wecht was also mindful of the potential giant pot of gold these people, and others, might be chasing. In looking at the motivations of the many people who had been around Anna and her son, Wecht performs psychological autopsies and holds back nothing.

This riveting book also contains new details surrounding Daniel Smith’s funeral that I have never read in any other accounts. Included is Anna Nicole Smith’s plaintive wailing: “I don’t want my husband, I want my son back. Leave me alone, leave me alone. Don’t touch me!” Rosespeaks.com readers know what the nannies’ account of the day was like, but “A Question of Murder” offers another view.

Also revealed in the book is a prescription drug that Daniel took, which Wecht declined to identify during his Nassau press conference. Wecht explains his reason for mentioning it in the book, and why it should be part of Daniel’s autopsy record now. I must say the inclusion of this drug stunned me.

Daniel Smith’s full autopsy results, including the NMS Labs toxicology, were made public in January 2007. Around the same time, in Nassau, attorney Wayne Munroe became the sole attorney for Howard K. Stern and Anna Nicole Smith. Munroe would be behind every important behind-the-scenes move for the pair from then on.

More surprises come with Dr. Wecht’s accounts of the Bahamian Coronial Inquest, including how and why it seemed to start and stop. Wecht found two inquest witnesses especially problematic, and he paints a vivid picture as to who and why. One man’s testimony was so troubling to Wecht, it evokes a series of emails and calls between the doctor and Stern.

In the final analysis, Wecht writes his truthful views of all of the players in this case — the people we know so well at Rosespeaks.com. You may agree with him, or you may disagree, but you can’t help but be impressed by his decision to expose the full spectrum of personalities and events surrounding Daniel’s death.

And Dawna Kaufmann’s research and writing nicely fills in who this tragic 20-year-old was in life, making him a complex and fun human being who never got the chance to live his life to the fullest.

As convoluted as Daniel’s investigation was, Wecht notes the sorrow he left in his loved ones’ hearts. He ends the chapter with this thought about Daniel: “Hopefully, when [people] think of him, they will remember the joy of his life, rather than the mystery of his death.”

Rose Speaks.com readers will have unprecedented access to the authors, if you bought the book and have questions, ask them here, when Rose Turner talks to the co-authors if they can they will answer them. Don’t miss this rare access to the authors of “A Question of Murder”. If you have not picked up a copy of the book both Amazon and our favorite online store Barnes and Noble has it in stock.

NEWEST FILINGS IN THE TEXAS STATE DISTRICT COURT FOR HEARING ON AUGUST 28, 2009

August 27, 2009 Rose Turner’s Objection to Art Harris Motion to Reconsider the Appointment of Craig Ball with a Request for Protective Order and Stay in the forensic exam of his electronic media.

http://www.rosespeaks.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&op=getit&lid=2367.

August 27, 2009 Rose Turner’s Exhibits B-H filed with Objection to Art Harris Motion to Reconsider the Appointment of Craig Ball with a Request for Protective Order and Stay in the forensic exam of his electronic media. Exhibit A as stated was filed for an in camera review before becoming part of the Judicial Record.

http://www.rosespeaks.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&op=getit&lid=2368.

August 28, 2009 Plaintiff Virgie Arthur’s Response to Art Harris Motion to Reconsider the Appointment of Craig Ball with a Request for Protective Order and Stay in the forensic exam of his electronic media.

http://www.rosespeaks.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&op=getit&lid=2369.

May 2009 Texas Appellate Decision of Designation of Responsible Third Parties is NOT wrong and in fact should and can be used to avoid the statute of limitations.

http://www.rosespeaks.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&op=getit&lid=2370.

©Rose Turner with the aide Dawna Kaufmann
August 27, 2009
All Rights Reserved, do not reproduce in whole or in part without the express written consent of the author.

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Tags: A Question of Murder, Anna Nicole Smith, Anna Nicole Smith's nannies, Anthony McKinney Esq., CBS-ET, Celebrity Trials, Chief Coronor Linda Virgill, Daniel Smith, Daniel Smith autopsy, Daniel Smith's funeral, Daniel Smtih Autopsy, Daniel Wayne Smith's Death Investigation, Dannielynn, Dawna Kaufmann, Dawna Kaufmann - A Question of Murder, Dr Cyril Wecht - A Question of Murder, Dr. Cyril Wecht, Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dawna Kaufmann, Dr. Raju, Dr. Raju - Nassau medical examiner, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Entertainment Tonight, Greta Van Susteren, High Profile Trials, Horizons - Anna Nicole Smith's home, Howard K Stern, Jack Harding, Jack Harding P. I., LabCorp Tampa Florida, Linda Virgill, Michael Scott Esq., Nancy Grace, Nassau Bahamas, National Medical Services, Tracy Ferguson Esq., Virgie Arthur, Wayne Munroe, Wayne Munroe Esq.

It has been passed around in court filings from last June in California, to Florida, to New York that Mark Speer(s), a/k/a Speer, Spear and Spears, seems to have almost as much connection to all of the lawsuits in differing jurisdictions as does Wilma Vicedomine, which leads to the question of why?

In the California dueling banjos of the Birkhead sues Opri sues Birkhead cases there are a few facts they did agree on. The main one being that a disagreement over money given to Opri on or about March 2, 2007, which ended up in her client trust fund, caused a disagreement on March 13 following a hearing in California.

After that the tale gets hazy, Larry Birkhead has always claimed he fired Opri on March 13, Opri has maintained she fired Birkhead on March 15 and released a statement stating that right before a hearing in the Bahamas on the morning of March 16, 2007.

Court Filings by Opri shows she filed on March 20, 2007 to be released as Birkhead’s attorney of record in California and that the court granted that on April 23, 2007.

We have many allegations if you all remember of whether Rita Cosby secured Opri for Birkhead and if Opri then released confidential information to Cosby as a thank you for the high profile client. That is a lot of he said, she said, except that Cosby does say in her book she did introduce them but did not know of any financial arrangements. Greta of Fox, during a L. A. Times article on the woes of Debra Opri did recount a conversation she had with Birkhead in September 2006 in which she said Birkhead told her Opri was going to represent him free. Opri, Cosby and Paul Barresi all agree they met and became friends during the Michael Jackson Criminal Trial in California in 1993.

Then there are all of those people in all of these suits, especially the lawyers of Cosby, Opri, Arthur tend to keep mentioning the Marshall monies Dannielynn might get one day, which seems to be an ongoing current in all of these cases and with all of these people.

In Opri’s filings, and statements made by both Ford Shelley and Ron Rale there was a meeting in Rale’s hotel room between Shelley, Birkhead and Howard K. Stern about funeral arrangements for Anna Nicole Smith as well as attempting to reach agreements on all disputed facts including Horizons and a private DNA test for Larry Birkhead. This meeting occurred the night of the last day of hearings in Florida in February 2007. However, until Cosby’s book was published that is the only meeting anyone has ever talked about other than Opri thanked Stern on the last day of hearings for Stern agreeing to allow Birkhead permission to see Dannielynn during Birkhead’s next visit to the Bahamas.

In Court Filings in California, Opri seems to “believe and states” that Birkhead and Harvey Levin of TMZ.com were “good friends”. Larry Birkhead bragged about that per Opri’s filings, including releasing her bill to TMZ.com, and it does appear that TMZ.com had the exclusive following Birkhead’s ten-hour deposition this week. So perhaps that allegation is true, after all it would appear that possibly TMZ.com might have bought some of Birkhead’s celebrity pictures over the years to me, what do y’all think?

Then comes the surprise why did John O’Quinn’s law firm claimed “privilege” on all third party correspondence that ended up with Wilma Vicedomine to “check out” but not those that ended up with the rest of the firm including Don Clark. Thus, the law firm released the long rambling email of Carolyn Herring, which several thought was hiney einy of Florida only after reading that email it is clear that Ms. Herring lives in Texas in the Dallas Fort Worth area. There is a long rambling correspondence with a Howard Lynn, which is just that. Then there are emails from a Joyce Cornwell of Florida that is interesting, as well as a nurse from Denton Texas offering her service “pro bono” to Virgie Arthur. Many of you have pointed out the interesting email from someone claiming to be with the Montel Williams show, which is interesting only in that Cosby ended up on that show with Don Clark and others selling her book in the fall of 2007.

There is a fan email from Marilyn Williamson of Fenandina Beach Florida, dated March 28, 2007. Ms. Williamson is proud to say she figured out John O’Quinn’s strategy in getting Howard K. Stern to file a slander suit against O’Quinn for the “m” word so O’Quinn could get jurisdiction over Stern in Texas, now that is an interesting email since it now appears to have a ring of truth to it.

However, I found three emails of particular interest, one from Virgie Arthur’s Bahamian lawyer, Debra Rose. That email states to Don Clark the following:

“Debra Rose wrote:

Don,
We are aware of the Bahamian connection; add to that the son of Roger Gomez, Roger Gomez, Jr., was recently an associate of the law firm of Lockhart and Munroe, Howard Stern’s attorneys.

DEBRA”

You have to wonder why O’Quinn did not claim attorney-client privilege on that one for Virgie Arthur.

But then there are some interesting letters and two very interesting emails, the letters are to and from Brian Cavanagh in Florida as well as the FBI in Miami asking for a more thorough investigation into Anna Nicole’s death.

The letter to the FBI states in part the following:

Dated April 16, 2007

“[A]n expert, Mr. David Liebman, a two time president of the National Association of Document Examiners, says the signature appears to be a forgery is also enclosed. Additionally I [Clark] have enclosed a copy of a magazine article that identifies the expert who says he believes the signature of the Will is a forgery.

Based on the investigation conducted by this law firm, the media and private citizens, we strongly believe that Anna’s death was anything but an accidental overdose. We believe that there should be a thorough investigation into Ms. Smith’s death, which would not be complete without including the circumstance surrounding the death of her son, Daniel smith, who died in the Bahamas on September 10, 2006 under almost identical circumstances…

Don Clark then names both DEA agents and telephone numbers in California that are conducting an investigation, Lisa Troncoso and Alma Tongson, as well as Jon Genens an “investigator” for the State of California Medical Board, are investigating the methods of procuring prescription drugs”.

Clark thanks SSA Patrick G. Brodsky, for taking the time and meeting with him [Clark] on “April 11, 2007 to discuss what I [Clark] believe to be severe mis-steps and incomplete investigations conducted by the Seminole Police Department”, (OUCH!), “surrounding the death of Anna Nicole Smith. I am available to provide you with any assistance I can to ensure justice is done as it relates to Ms. Smith’s death and the death of her son Daniel. I can be contacted at any time at the below numbers…”

Don Clark sends a CC to Valerie Parlave, Assistant Special Agent In charge, FBI, Miami Division.

Then we have the letter dated August 2, 2007 from Brian T. Cavanagh to Don Clark that states in part:

“August 2, 2007

From Brian T. Cavanagh

“…letter dated July 23, 2007, and our follow-up telephone conversation this week with a “representative of your firm”.”

No date but in response to the August 2, 2007 letter Don Clark makes some interesting statements.

Don Clark says in part “…However, I and others in the law firm do believe that the investigations was not conducted in sufficient depth to determine actual motives and more detailed actions of the individuals surrounding Ms. Smith from prior to her travels between the Bahamas and the Hard Rock Hotel on the Seminole Reservation. I [Clark] believe that a more detailed look into individuals associated with Ms. Smith and the actions of each of the individuals prior to her clinical time of death will produce different results.

…Frankly sir, we don’t question the coroner’s conclusion that Ms. Smith died of an overdose of various drugs, but we do question that her death was accidental. We find it extremely unbelievable that a person in Ms. Smith’s mental and physical condition, which has been established by witnesses and according to Howard Stern, was never left alone, could have the quantity of drugs found in her body as a result of ingestion or by using a syringe herself.

Below, is a partial list of individuals and what information they should provide. Some of the witnesses may require subpoenas. However, I believe their information is key to developing the whole truth surrounding Ms. Smith’s death.

Witness number 1 is Mark Speer.

Now in August of 2007 we seem to have a different story from Tas including “information regarding computers and cell phone activities”, as well as Moe, [which goes to Moe Moe tell us it ain't so did you sell out prior to Cosby's book], Dr. Khris and the Bahamian nannies…”

Don Clark goes on to say he is, “now prepared to meet with you and your staff for the purpose of providing you with additional information, names of potential witnesses and some pertinent documents, which I believe will provide sufficient probably cause to re-open the investigation into the death of Anna Nicole Smith.”

My question is if Mark Speer was so crucial to the investigation into the death of Anna Nicole Smith why throw Mark under the bus now in July 2008?

We have Mark Speer, connected to all things California, Florida, the Bahamas, and New York as a source for Cosby’s book and now when it appears he is not needed tossed under the bus to fend for himself. You ask why we know this happened to Mark? I suggest you pull the 2 emails from Mark Wilson dated March 20, 2007, the date that Opri filed to be removed as Birkhead’s lawyer in California, very interesting timing. Both emails from “Mark Wilson” are desperate to reach John O’Quinn to tell him he worked free with Opri and Birkhead and that he has important information for O’Quinn about a “SECRET MEETING”. In the second email dated the same day the “SECRET MEETING” is added as occurring at “HORIZONS” and that Dannielynn might be in danger and what he is willing to do and for free… WOW so many working free here. However, it is that secret meeting at Horizons, which found its way into Cosby’s book. Not to mention at her New York book signing party there was Mark Speer with Don Clark, John O’Quinn and Virgie Arthur all big smiles for the photo ops.

What is interesting is Mark Wilson also goes by Mark Speer, a/k/a Mark Wilson Speer etc., and that Mr. Wilson/Speer has been a member of Rose Speaks.com from almost the beginning or Rose Speaks.com. Even after we were hacked into in November and December 2007, Mr. Speer joined quietly again on January 22, 2008 under the name of Marcus, Ooooooopppppppppss we need to add that name to the many names of Mark Speer(s). On another interesting note, it appears we had or have a pending member that is actually Wilma. These things make you all snuggly to know these people want to be close to us including trying to join our new forums, doesn’t it?

Therefore, with this article the main site member list is NOW CLOSED to all except admins. That said we welcome both Mark and Wilma. Although I must say I would have more respect if you had joined with your “real name” like John Nazarian did, just my opinion. Oh and Mark, you have my email address feel free to contact me if you would like to chat.

The password protective blog is at this url: http://www.rosespeaks.com/rose-blog/?p=357.

©Rose Turner
July 25, 2008
All Rights Reserved, do not reproduce in whole or in part without the express written consent of the author.

This article is the sole property of Rose Speaks unless otherwise stated. This article as with other articles is based on the opinion of Rose Turner, or our guest authors if so indicated. Please remember we are not lawyers and those opinions expressed here are each of our individual opinions and should not be taken as legal advice and/or legal opinions. The comments following this article are the opinions and sole property of the site members and do not necessarily reflect those of the site owners.

Please also read our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.

Tags: All Things Anna Nicole Smith, Anna Nicole Smith, Anna Nicole Smith’s Will, Anna Nicole’s Nannies, Celebrity Trials, Daniel Smith, Dannielynn, Debra Opri, Debunking the myths on ALL cases related to Anna Nicole, Don Clark, Don Clark ex-FBI, Dr. Kapoor, Dr. Khris, Greta -On The Record, Greta Van Susteren, Harvey Levin, Horizons law suit, Howard and Anna, Howard K Stern, John J. Nazarian, John Nazarian, John Nazarian PI, John O’Quinn, Lin Wood, Mark Speer, Nazarian, Nazarian P. I., Paul Barresi, Rita Cosby, Ron Rale, Rose Speaks, Rose Turner, rosespeaks.com, TMZ, Virgie Arthur, Wayne Munroe