Smith's mom wants bodies buried in Texas

Vergie Arthur wants to exhume both her daughter's and grandson's bodies.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Anna Nicole Smith's estranged mother told a judge Wednesday she wants to exhume her grandson in the Bahamas and bring his body to Texas to be buried along with his starlet-mother in her native state.
Smith's longtime companion, Howard K. Stern, is fighting for the former Playboy centerfold to be buried next to her son in the island chain, where he died from apparent drug-related causes last year.
On the second day of testimony, Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin indicated the best result would be a compromise -- and soon -- since the medical examiner again warned Smith's body was decomposing more quickly than expected and a public viewing could be in danger.
"When you walked into the court, you hope to get everything," Seidlin said. "We will try to fashion a remedy where not everyone gets everything they want."
Smith died Feb. 8 at age 39. Her cause of death is under investigation.
Without written proof of Smith's wishes, Seidlin was forced to hear testimony from those who claim to know what she wanted.
Also at issue in a California court is who fathered Smith's 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, who could inherit millions of dollars. Stern is listed as the father on the birth certificate, but a photographer who once dated Smith says the girl is his.
Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, testified that although she had not seen her daughter since 1996, they spoke on the phone more frequently. She cried as she spoke about her relationship with Smith and her 20-year-old grandson's death.
She also disputed Stern's testimony on Tuesday that Smith was always obsessed with her own death and expected to die young, just like her hero, Marilyn Monroe.
"You can't make me believe that. She was too full of life. She loved life," she said.
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