Why wasn't Mary Jo Kopechne's body autopsied?

self

[Rander7]

The mystery of Chappaquiddick

[Rander7]

I have always wondered why the body of Mary Jo Kopeckne wasn't autopsied. I'm assuming the Kennedy clan put a stop to that. It's too bad her family didn't insist on it. But what with modern DNA abilities today,it would be interesting to see what they would dicsover. I wonder if she was pregnant with Kennedy's child, and it was stopped so as not to hurt the young Kennedy's chance of running for President someday ( which he did not do...thank goodness!)If anyone of you out there would know anything regarding this possibility, let me know. In light of the on going double murder trial of Scott Peterson, it sure would be interesting to find this out.

[sine_nomine]

Her own parents opposed it. They supported Teddy at first. That changed when the enormity of the crime dawned on them.

[Mears]

The adulation of the Kennedy's was rampant.and probably in the Kopechne family too!!!!

Some people even said that they were paid off,but those were rumors.

IIRC she was their only child and I can't imagine why they didn't pursue the investigation.

He called his lawyer before he called the police----that should tell us something.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

He did run for president but gave up when he saw his campaign sinking!

[JesseHousman]

...why the body of Mary Jo Kopeckne wasn't autopsied.

Because it would have proven that Mary Jo had lived for another 45 minutes and could have been saved had she been riding in a car driven by someone other than a Kennedy!

[Bon mots]

Click on the image to see the site. It will open in a new page.

[sphinx]

He called his lawyer before he called the police----that should tell us something.

He spent the hours immediately after the accident on the phone with his stable of political advisors all over the country. As far as I know, none of them have ever talked, but presumably he only called the police when it became clear he could not come up with an escape hatch and get off entirely.

[blanknoone]

Autopsies are generally to determine cause of death. There was no doubt as to her cause of death.

It could have potentially led to some information about motive if she had been pregnant, but that would have been a fishing expidition.

[Bon mots]

[OldFriend]

There is no evidence that the Kopechne family ever said one word against Ted Kennedy.

[DumpsterDiver]

Autopsies are generally to determine cause of death. There was no doubt as to her cause of death.

I thought that there had been some doubt. Wouldn't an autopsy have shown whether she died from asphyxiation versus drowning?

[Rander7]

That's what I was thinking.....

[Bon mots]

Has anybody read this book?



Click on the image to see more...

[KarlInOhio]

There was no doubt as to her cause of death.

The only doubt was drowning vs. asphyxiation.

If she drowned she might not have been able to be rescued even if Fat Ted had acted faster. If she asphyxiated in an air pocket in the car she could have been rescued with prompt (or even not all that prompt) action by rescuers.

[Bon mots]

Wouldn't an autopsy have shown whether she died from asphyxiation versus drowning?

Plenty of people "drown" and have no water in their lungs.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Errrrrraaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhh, burp! I..ahhhhhhh.. paid them off!"

[Rander7]

You're right...unfortunately...

[1Old Pro]

If you have ever driven around Chappaquidick Island, you have already concluded that Ted was hammered and was driving down to the beach, a short walk from the briege, prbably to fool around with the yuoung woman.

If it had anybody else, anybody, they would have been convicted of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Ted is slime and people should never let him forget this incident, never.

[TXBSAFH]

I saw a special on the incident. To that day the family still supported Jabba (Teddy) the Kennedy. And I do remember somting about $250000 being paid to the family.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

There was no doubt as to her cause of death.

I don't think this is so. If I recall correctly, there was confusion about whether she had died of drowning or suffocation. If the latter, it would have meant that Kennedy's delay (eight hours or more) in seeking assistance prevented help from being summoned that would have saved her life.