Casey Kasem's Body Is Missing, 33 Days After His Death? Radio Icon Moved From Funeral Home

It is unclear who was involved, but the news comes amid an ongoing family feud between his wife, Jean Kasem, and most of his children, including Kerri Kasem

By Corinne Heller Jul 18, 2014 10:36 PMTags
Casey KasemAP Photo/Eric Jamison

Not only has Casey Kasem not yet been laid to rest more than a month after he died at age 82, but his body has gone missing...at least from the mortuary where it had been taken following his death, E! News has confirmed.

The mysterious disappearance comes amid a longtime feud between his three children from a previous marriage, including daughter Kerri Kasem, and their stepmother and his widow, Jean Kasem, who retained the legal rights over his remains. She has not commented.

The body of the former host of the radio countdown show American Top 40 and voice of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo has been removed from the Washington funeral home where his remains were taken following his death on June 15. His death certificate lists a funeral home in Montreal as the place of disposition, but a rep for the facility told NBC News that Kasem was not at any of their 25 locations.

It was revealed this week that Casey's body still remained at the funeral home in Washington, a month after his death. Today, E! News learned that his remains had been removed from the facility.

On Wednesday, his family, including Kerri, filed at a Washington court a request for an autopsy, records show. They also obtained a temporary restraining order against their stepmother that would prohibit her from having Casem's body moved or cremated until one is performed. A judge said that Jean must ensure her husband remains at the funeral home until a ruling about the postmortem examination is made, reports say.

For months, she and his family had been involved in a court battle over the visitation rights and medical care of Casey, who suffered from Lewy body dementia and was unable to speak, move or eat on his own. Jean had him moved from a nursing home in California to a private residence in Washington. Later, a judge appointed Kerri to be Casey's temporary conservator and allowed her to implement end-of-life measures for her ailing dad.

His three children from his first marriage held a memorial service for him that Jean did not attend.

—Reporting by Lindsay Good