Times reporters Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein answer readers' questions about Michael Jackson

Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein are Times reporters who've spent the last weeks extensively covering the Michael Jackson story.  As a result, they are well-versed in the details of the King of Pop's life and death, his family and the people who surrounded him and what the future may hold for his children, his estate and his legacy. 

Ryan and Blankstein are here to answer your questions about Michael Jackson. Got a question?  Post it here and look for the answer in an upcoming video segment on Latimes.com.

Photo: A poster of Jackson is covered with messages from fans at a one-day tribute at Universal CityWalk.  Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Chris]

Has it been decided where Jackson will be laid to rest?

[mark jonson]

Stop wasting time and effort on more BS MJ news and conduct an investigation into how the taxpayers of LA got stuck with the cost of the memorial.

Items to investigate

1) why did the Mayor leave town on vacation at this critical time. Did he have an direct interaction via phone with city officials to advise them on what should be done while he was on vacation? Is the Mayor guilty of neglect due to his absence during this time?

2) Who authorized Jan Perry to allow LA to pay for the cost of the memorial. What LA city department estimated the number of police that would be required? Why were 3000 police officers used for the event which turned out to be massive overkill?

3) Is it the best use of LA city taxes to utilize police officers to serve as overpaid ticket collectors at a private event hosted by a multimillion dollar corporation such as AEG?

Why were police officer's need to act as ticket collectors when AEG could have hired security guards to work the inside gates there by allowing a smaller squad of police to be placed only on the outermost entrances.

4) Why were private security and off duty police officers not hired directly by the Jackson's family to work at Forest Lawn Cemetery as well as their Encino home?

These and more investigative questions need to be addressed by a serious news outlet such as the LA Times.

Fluff celebrity news stories are worthless during these times of severe economic crisis which the city of LA is facing.

I urge the LA Times to take the lead in investigating the real story behind the Jackson memorial.

Mark Jonson

[SammieB]

These reporters are the worst. How many times does she say, UM or UH? Besides, we are learning nothing new. What are these low rent "reporters" acting like they have extensive knowledge of this case?

You people are vultures. GET A LIFE!

[cynthia]

Let me ask you this how is that you have all this information on Michael Jackson? No one knows really anything they are just speculating is all, which is what I find you are doing as well as the media. Can everyone just let this poor man rest in peace and lets move on. PLEASE LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jon]

Why didn't law enforcement pursue doctors for prescription drug violations when they discovered the extensive evidence back when Neverland was raided? Testimony during the trial also brought out additional evidence of violations by named doctors.

[Kelley Lynch]

Harriet,

I have a question. Why is "Robbery Homicide" investigating this and yet nothing is benig written about the fact that Bill Pavelic has alleged that they (Robbery-Homicide) set up him, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Baden in Phil Spector's matter in "retaliation" for the OJ trial? Also, Harriet, did you read the District Attorney's Internal Memorandum about Killer King and the coroner's office. It struck me that the Deputy DA felt Pena would lie for his job, lie for his boss, and understood his job was political.

Harriet, I am a tutor and understand that non-English speakers will compensate and even lie on occasion - ie., DeSouza. I know you're now onto Michael Jackson's matter but I think some burning issues need to be resolved in the Phil Spector "set up" while Phillip rots in prison.

Any news on the whereabouts of Baby Doll Gibson?

Kelley Lynch

[Master G]

The problem with putting your dumpy print reporters on video is they're painful to watch. Never mind all the "umming" and "ers", they just come across as pissed off and condescending. Real TV people are as shallow and two dimensional as a piece of paper, but at least they make it entertaining.

[Wree]

Michael was wealthy in life, and will be wealthy in death. No one really cares about his money. Michael's children are precious, and he lived long enough to make sure that the most important, first 5 years of all their lives was free from the pain and abuse he suffered. None of us are in a position to help his children anyway. Michael believed that children, whether adopted or biological, belong to us all; and we should nurture them all. The "story" here can only be found in his lyrics and possibly in opening a national debate on nurturing children and shielding them from childhoods like Michael's. The story here is about his philanthropic pursuits, his art, his refusal to be a "color", or a gender. He broke through barriers without the masses even realizing that this was what he was doing.

[BB]

First question: Has anyone from the media actually seen Michael Jackson's body, in person, at any point of the story? At what point or points?

Is anyone at AEG or Sony being investigated in connection with drug supplies or anything else?

Are phone records, etc. being investigated of all MJ staff, healthcare personnel, business associates and family?

From a financial perspective during a "bad economy," how are the numbers looking for those cashing in on MJ's death -- City of LA, LAPD, AEG, Sony, affiliated businesses and individuals, family, media, tourism, etc.

Has MJ's death been a kind of financial transfusion, bailout or jump-start for those in need or want? How much money has he generated into the weak economy so far? Keep tabs on this.

[BB]

Could the anesthesia drug could have been used for "date rape" or sleep-overs?

Why has the medical community been immune from the papparazi and media so far? Only the dermatologist, Arnold Klein has been forced, or offered himself, into the public eye so far. Why has the papparazi not penetrated Dr. Conrad Murray's comfort zones? He was allegedly the "doctor-in-charge" and was present at the death. Is LAPD calling the shots on who the media can hound? Why?

[JohnRJ08]

What proof is there, if any, that Joe Jackson beat his children? What has Michael and his siblings said about this?

[JohnRJ08]

How much did Michael Jackson actually weigh at the time of his death?

[JohnRJ08]

Do we know how many settlements Michael Jackson paid to parents of young boys over the last 20 years?

[JohnRJ08]

Is Debbie Rowe the biological parent of the two children or not? I had heard that she had confessed that her eggs were not used.

[Siobhan Stevens]

Was Michael Jackson gay? Also, what is going on with the autopsy? Initially it was said it would take two weeks to get the results. Will the results be released? What do LAPD know that makes them believe this is a homicide, especially without the autopsy results? I would appreciate facts not speculation, if you don't know, just say so. Thanks.

[Judy Briggs]

Here is a question- what was Janet Jackson doing in M.J. place the day the mover came to move the things out. It seems fishy watching her drive out in the car before the investigators came to get the drugs from the house .If you go back to the beginning of film after his death--what was Janet after--her drugs or something she did not want anyone to know Many of us think that is something fishy going with Janet at that time. Just a question. Judy

[knowdalaw]

My first question is why the LAPD did not rope off the house immediately after Jackson's death was announced. Instead, family members of the singer came and went into the home all week. Not only that, a moving Van was there that Saturday, two days after his death, to move things out the house. This can raise great suspicion that something could easily have been removed or taken in there that could raise doubt if a homicide investigation takes place. In addition, it was nearly a week before the Coroner came over and removed large size bags of medicine. Again, this can cause one to suspect that what they find may not have been there when the singer died.

My second comment is that many are using the Pepsi burn commercial vide to say this is why Michael got addicted to prescription drugs. Can we all face the fact that 1984 was 25 YEARS Ago? We cannot keep justifying Michael by this more than two decades ago accident the cause of his problems today. Michael sued Pepsi and was awarded millions for this accident. Furthermore, I am sure they paid his medical cost. He was back filming two weeks later. He rushed himself back so that he could be successful, and did not value his health.

[leonard macaluso]

on Wikipedia i came across a DSM diagnosis "acquired situational narcissism", ASN. it seems to me that MJ must have fitted in here, as do many celebrities, psychologically.

[Pierre Pullins, Indianapolis, In]

Was there an AED at Micheal's side, if not, why?-Gross negligence or deliberate?

Is anybody checking the Doctor's email, phone records, Schedule? Who did he meet with in weeks or months prior to mikes death? What about others in the home?

Who was in charge of security?

Seems to me there was no way in hell mike was going to be able to keep this schedule.

What's the insurance payoff on Mikes life and the concerts?

[Eric]

Please close caption your videos here so that even deaf and hard of hearing Americans like me can follow what you have said in your video presentation. I have no access to the sound track and have absolutely no idea what you folks have said so far in the video part of your presentation here.

Thank you for listening,
Eric

[lakerstyle]

What songs were going to be part of the set list for the This Is It Concert at the O2?

[Marc]

Give it a rest already. Don't you two have anything else to cover instead of MJ tidbits...endlessly. There's a world out there falling apart: the economy, foreclosures, wars, poverty, Iran...hello...and you twits think endless MJ crap is reporting? Get a job at TMZ or National Enquirer. Make room for people who care enough about the world and community - and LAT readers - to actually report on things that matter. Or is this the best that the Times can do? Pathetic.

[ROBERT BLAIR]

what if mike had did the comeback tour and had literally did not do as well as he thought he would do? THE MEDIA WHOULD HAVE ATE HIM ALIVE!! !just like all of a sudden they act like he was a deity of above mortal men.well consider the options a man will always be remembered by his deeds but no matter how good or astronomical the deeds are what stick out the most is the bad stuff people remember more!!! so this way he remains the indisputable king of pop///it is hard to achieve greatness twice in one life time!!!my hats off to you m / j you have done it once in life and now in death makes you wonder was it planned or fate makes you say hmmm! if you had a choice which would you choose to be remembered on top or a flop?the only bigger than a mans ego is god////and im out of here//// p /s i am not trying to tarnish his image cause people who knows me no i am a m/j fanatic but like he sang on the single he wanted destiny well he truly wrote his out hmmm!!!

[virtgurly]

Is there any truth to some articles I've read about the missing CCTV Security tapes, and the missing segements on the computer hard drive of the security system? According to the articles Michael had video cameras inside & outside the house for security..but the tapes that would've show what really happened have disappeared.

[Ringo Jones]

Who owns the Jackson Family Home in Encino? His parents filed for Chapter 11 several years ago but the Encino Family home is not listed as one of their assets.