Michael Jackson’s body will be driven to his Neverland Valley Ranch in central California as early as tomorrow with public viewing being set for later this week, according to media reports yesterday.
A motorcade of as many as 30 cars is expected to accompany Jackson’s body to his ranch, which is located near the town of Los Olivos, north of Santa Barbara, according to reports by TV network CNN and celebrity website TMZ.com, citing police officials.
Entertainment news website E! News cited a Santa Barbara sheriff’s department spokesman as saying meetings were taking place with the California Highway Patrol to discuss security for the trip from the Jackson family home in Los Angeles to Neverland Valley.
A spokesman for the Santa Barbara County’s sheriffs office was not immediately available to comment, nor were representatives for Jackson’s family.
Pop superstar Jackson, whose hits include Thrillerand Billie Jeandied suddenly of cardiac arrest last Thursday.
Jackson’s birthplace of Gary, Indiana, is also planning a memorial service for the late singer on July 10th, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office.
Lalosa Burns, spokeswoman for Gary mayor Rudy Clay, said the memorial service would take place at US Steel Works sports stadium and that more details would follow.
She did not have any information about the service being planned in California.
Television network CNN said on its website that the public viewing of Jackson’s body would be held on Friday. – (Reuters)