Jun 27, 2009 9:45 pm US/Pacific
'Devastated' Jackson Family Issues Statement
Kin Notes 'Dark Moment,' Thanks Supporters, Loyal Fans
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Fans wait outside the County of Los Angeles Coroners office in Los Angeles on June 26, 2009.
Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
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Michael Jackson announces plans for Summer residency at the O2 Arena at a press conference held at the O2 Arena on March 5, 2009 in London.
Tim Whitby/Getty Images
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In this handout image provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Michael Jackson is shown in a mug shot after he was booked on multiple counts for allegedly molesting a child Nov. 20, 2003, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
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Michael Jackson sports a white glove during his first concert in eleven years at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sept. 7, 2001.
Beth A. Keiser/AFP/Getty Images
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The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday to People Magazine, conveyed by family patriarch Joseph Jackson. In full, it reads:
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.
We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you - who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.
In addition, Joseph Jackson wishes to personally convey: "My grandchildren are deeply moved by all the love and support you have shown for them and their father, Michael Jackson."
Joseph Jackson & Family"
The Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed earlier Saturday that the Jackson family wanted an independent autopsy to determine the cause of the King of Pop's death.
The family told Jesse Jackson about its wishes while he spent time with them during the past two days, the reverend said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He said there were unanswered questions surrounding the death, including the role of the personal cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson when he died.
The L.A. Times reported Saturday evening that the autopsy had been complete by a private pathologist. The publication cites sources familiar with the case.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office performed an autopsy on the singer's body on Friday but deferred a finding on the cause of death pending further tests that could take more than a month.
This delay perhaps contributed to the Jackson family's desire to seek a second autopsy. One of the immediate benefits of getting a second autopsy is giving the family a chance for answers before the official autopsy results are released by the county, Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police and former chief medical examiner for New York City, told the L.A. Times.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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