Fulton County Superior Judge Henry M. Newkirk has ruled to unseal Bobbi Kristina Brown's autopsy report in response to a motion filed by WXIA. The report is not yet public and the state is appealing.
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"(The motion) claims the sealing order should be vacated because it was entered without notice to the public and without an opportunity for a hearing, in violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Constitution, and the rules of the court. The motion declares there is no question that autopsy reports are public records which have historically been open to the press and general public."
The state is arguing to keep the report sealed pending its investigation. The judge noted the case has now dragged on for more than a year.
Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in a bathtub Jan. 31 2015. She was hospitalized for months. Although rumors periodically cropped up suggesting she was showing signs of improvement she never regained consciousness.
The family in June 2015 announced the decision to move her to hospice care after months of being hospitalized, saying she was “in God’s hands.”
“Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” her aunt and legally appointed co-guardian Pat Houston said in a statement then. “We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.”
She died at 22 July 26, 2015. Despite the show of unity among many family members,
her funeral in Alpharetta became the site of a public family feud.
Bobbi Kristina was buried Aug. 3
next to her motherWhitney Houston'sgrave in New Jersey. It seemed she might never rest in peace, though.
The suit was filed prior to Bobbi Kristina’s death and amended afterward to include damning allegations. Nick’s legal team lashed out swiftly and filed a motion to dismiss.
“The recent lawsuit against Nick is slanderous and meritless,” a statement on his behalf said. “Nick has been heartbroken and destroyed over the loss of his love and it’s shameful that such baseless allegations have been presented publicly. Nick has engaged civil counsel and intends to defend the lawsuit vigorously and expose it for what it is: a fictitious assault against the person who loved Krissy most.”
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Exactly what caused Bobbi Kristina to die remains a mystery. An initial autopsy found no obvious cause of death but the final report was sealed by court order.
No one has been charged in connection with her death although a woman who worked at the hospice where she died was arrested and faces charges in numerous Georgia counties.
No charges have been filed.
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