The bodies of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others who passed away tragically on Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash, have been returned to their families, CNN reports.
What happened: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner told CNN the bodies were being returned to their families.
- The cause of death for the victims was slated as “blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was certified as accident,” CNN reported.
The victims: The coroner’s office identified all nine victims last week:
- Kobe Bryant, 41
- Gianna Bryant, 13
- Payton Chester, 13
- Sarah Chester, 45
- Alyssa Altobelli, 14
- Keri Altobelli, 46
- John Altobelli, 56
- Christina Mauser, 38
- Ara Zobayan, 50
Before: Reports suggested that the bodies were sent to the forensic science center for examination.
- The identities were determined after “round-the-clock testing and analysis of DNA,” according to MEAWW.
What it means: “The news might mean that a memorial service for Kobe, which has so far seen multiple unforeseen delays, can finally go ahead. Sources with knowledge of the situation had dampened the hopes of a memorial taking place any time soon just last week,” according to MEAWW.
“We don’t have that date finalized, but we’ve been talking every day to the Lakers, and most importantly, to (Bryant’s widow, Vanessa) as well,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told USA Today.