Michael Jackson fans file past mausoleum on anniversary of his death [Updated]

About 30 fans lined up early Friday morning outside Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale to visit Michael Jackson's grave site on the one-year anniversary of his death.

Some had been there since 3 a.m., even though the cemetery does not open until 8 a.m. So they waited patiently outside the gates on Glendale Avenue. Across the street, police officers and news media also waited.

[Updated at 11:05 a.m.: Jackson family members and friends were arriving at the cemetery for a memorial service to be held inside the mausoleum where Jackson is interred.]

[Updated at 9:13 a.m.: After the gates opened, fans were granted limited access at the mausoleum where Jackson is buried. Forest Lawn erected a series of iron gates through which the fans walked.

As they passed, they were permitted to hand flowers and cards to cemetery personnel. Once they passed that point, they were asked to move along. Some said they were disappointed at the level of access.

"This is it?" fan Kathe Sowisdral asked an attendant. "This is terrible."

Sowisdral said she has traveled to the cemetery six times from her home in Atlanta. As she walked through the line, she said Jackson was actually on the opposite side of the mausoleum.

"I was hoping we would get to go in and see Michael," she said.

Bay Area resident Irene Childs, another Jackson fan, said she was unhappy with the security personnel at the cemetery.

"They were too pushy," Childs said. "There should have been more viewing time."]

One fan, Eboni Butler of Los Angeles, arrived at 3:45 a.m. She said she wanted to be there to celebrate Jackson's life.

"Ever since I first saw him, I was obsessed," Butler said. "He let out energy that was only comparable to the sun."

Tallora Digirolami, 31, traveled from Adelaide, Australia, just to pay tribute to the pop singer. She brought an Australian flag signed by Jackson fans from her hometown.

"I couldn't be here last year, so I had to be here this year," Digirolami said.

Those waiting in line were greeted by a Jackson impersonator who bore an eerily striking resemblance to the musical icon.

"His makeup is flawless," said Kevin Alperte, one of the fans. "He did a great job with every detail," said Tameka Jack, another fan.

Others posed for pictures with the look-alike, Carlo Riley, a 27-year-old software developer from Denver.

Riley said he has his own website and has traveled all over the world for Jackson tribute events. A self-described "crazy Michael Jackson fan," Riley said his impersonating began when he dressed up as the pop singer several years ago for Halloween.

"I don't look anything like this without my makeup," Riley said. "No one would ever notice me."

Riley said people are normally happy to see him, but sometimes the demand to be exactly like the entertainer becomes a burden.

"I'm not Michael and I never will be," he said.

Jackson's death last year shocked the world and prompted a media frenzy. Thousands of fans swarmed his memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Weeks later, the 50-year-old entertainer was laid to rest at the Glendale cemetery.

He died while putting the finishing touches on his comeback tour. Those preparations became a documentary that was released in movie theaters shortly after his June 25, 2009, death.

Law enforcement officials spent months focusing on how Jackson died. They removed prescription drugs and medical evidence from the rented Holmby Hills home where he died. The entertainer had a history of drug addiction -- and an early focus was that drugs played a role in his death.

The L.A. County Coroner's office found that Jackson had high levels of a propofol, a strong anesthetic used during surgery, in his body when he died.

L.A. prosecutors charged his doctor, Conrad Murray, with giving him the drugs. Murray has denied any wrongdoing.

Jackson's children are now living with the pop star's mother, Katherine, at the family's Encino estate.

Earlier this month, officials said there had been a security breach of Jackson's medical records when he was rushed to Ronald Reagan-UCLA Medical Center.

-- Sam Allen in Glendale

Photo: Brie Smith of Oceanside cheers as she walks toward the front gate of Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale. She was among a group of fans who came to pay their respects to Michael Jackson at his resting place on the one-year anniversary his death. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[from his True Love]

We were always meant to be together....and it wasn't until you died, that it became so clear that everything would be so different now. Your heart was so big and still is. Your love filled every breathe of you. We are kindred souls..forever, and with so much sadness...I miss you every second of every moment of every day. You were always so hard to reach, trying to stay away from so many that used you. But we are one, now. I know it, yet I can not explain how much I miss you or feel so much for Paris, Prince and Blanket.... You are all in my heart all the time.... Your mom and I know Janet, for sure miss you sooo as well as others. Your light...like mine...shines so bright....I am so sorry that I didn't follow through with you.. I miss you and I love you. Yes...you are a great talent and were....and people used you...but many loved you deeply. Wish you could have had ordinary, non public people around you more. To see, with clarity, the deep spirit and magic you are...Your energy fills the World, still.....but it isn't the same....there are some that miss you so much. I am so sad that you felt so alone...Hopefully, now...you are at peace...and you are with me....always...in love now and forever

[Kemara Warren]

I could hardly contain the tears when i heard of Michale's death, I miss him so much i think of Michael as a part of my family. i wish i could turned back the hands of time and bring him back to us. a part of my heart went with him but i know that where ever he is the angels are there listening to his beautiful voice.. we needed you, but God needed you more, shine like the star you are, you will always be in my heart, you will always be missed and you will be forever loved.

you have left your foot prints behind and we will continue to follow in trying to heal the world as you wanted......GONE TOO SOON!!

[Kemara Warren]

Peace be unto your Family Michael..we love you

Kemara Warren from Jamaica

[Al]

MJ is a freakin' pedophile for crying out loud! Enough of this hero worship already! It's times like this I wish I weren't an atheist so I could actually believe he's rotting in hell right now!

[My opinon means nothing]

Do you guys just go to bed at 6 and not bother to check to see if any other posts have been made or what?

[andrea]

i wish that i was able to go to calif. we are big fans of michael jackson but any ways we been watching the tv shows about michael its not the same like being there in calif but iam glad that theres something on tv about michael jackson.

[Lisa]

To the Farrah Fawcett fan. I too, loved FF, she was strong, and an American icon, for her beauty and acting skills..But I know you are not trying to compare her to Michael Jackson?? MJ gave his whole life since the age of 5 traveling, giving his creative genius to the WORLD..and helping millions of people directly or in-directly who were in poverty, in war torn countries, sick of cancer and other illnesses, he helped families financially and emotionally who lost their children through violence, and illnesses..THERE is absolutely Will NEVER BE ANOTHER MICHAEL JACKSON..as far as you calling him names and disrespecting MJ's beautiful soul and legacy..all i got to say too you..is this stop being stupid, and read and research..MJ was innocent!! a hundred x over..all these families wanted money and they had a racist prosecution team that backed them up..And please read about pedophiles; it is a progress mental disorder-meaning it gets worst..as time goes by..meaning it is like an addiction..so your telling me that MJ was surrounded by thousands of children and only 2 or 3 come forward who were trying to extort money from other celebrities, who got made because MJ did not want to finance his script, and one who said he ticked him the wrong way..who hung on to the coat tails of the Chandlers..MJ is the FURTHEST thing from a child molester/pedophile..THEY are a VERY SECRETIVE GROUP of perverts! BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY are sick!! MJ had a OPEN DOOR to his home, he invited parents and other family members to his home who actually spent the night with him and their children in his bedroom, also along with MJ's own family members..YOU Are the one with the sick mind..I hope to GOD that you or anybody you love do not ever get accused of being a child molester and endure the torture he went through for the last 15 years of his life..or maybe you do know some who is or maybe you are one and you are using MJ's life as a smoke screen?? As for FF, maybe since you are such a fan-start a fan club or something like that. And believe me there will always be beautiful women who can act..now if FF would have traveled the world, and gave and showed love the way MJ did..maybe she too would be honored the way MJ..is. Although, one great thing I can say about FF she certainly had more class then allot of these sex symbols of today--at least she was a talented actress..none of these women today have talent..unless you call being filmed having sex with their boyfriends talent..Paris Hilton and Kim K. just to name a few..useless..Michael J. Jackson is being honored all over the WORLD ..for all the reasons why someone like him should be..HE GAVE IS HEART AND SOUL to help HEAL THE WORLD..and if you and people like you can not understand that--then maybe you should look at yourselves..RIP-FOREVER THE KING OF POP--KING OF HEATS

[sc441]

MJ has fans of all races...I'm a white woman (his age) and I always loved him since he was 11 years old. He was always so special. I will never forget him, he was just one of a kind. I loved him when he was in his teens and twenties though. He was just so naturally beautiful....sigh.

[leele25]

I just wish I could have been there. The only thing I could do that day was to light a candle in his memory and say a prayer for him. Love you Michael.