Examiner Finishes Schiavo Autopsy

The medical examiner completed the autopsy of Terri Schiavo on Friday, clearing the way for the release of the body to her husband, who plans to cremate her remains and bury the ashes without telling his in-laws when or where.

Results of the autopsy might not be released for several weeks, the medical examiner’s office said. Michael Schiavo hopes the autopsy will settle questions about her medical condition, but experts differ on whether that will happen.

Michael Schiavo and his in-laws spent Friday planning separate funerals for the 41-year-old woman, who died Thursday -- 13 days after her feeding tube was removed.

Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, have scheduled a funeral Mass for Tuesday in Gulfport, Fla. The Mass would be preceded by a gathering for people to express their condolences.

Michael Schiavo’s family has said he plans to take the cremated remains to Pennsylvania, where she grew up, but her parents want to bury her body in Florida.

Michael Schiavo declined to comment on the autopsy. The body is now ready for release to an unidentified mortuary designated by her husband, the medical examiner’s office said.

Terri Schiavo had been the center of a long legal battle over whether she would have wanted to be kept alive with the feeding tube for 15 years after suffering a devastating brain injury.

David Gibbs, the Schindlers’ attorney, said there had been no further discussions between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers about their daughter’s remains. The Schindlers did not plan to press the issue in court, he said.

“The court has already determined that [Michael Schiavo] will control the burial decisions,” Gibbs said.

Outside the Pinellas Park hospice where Terri Schiavo lived for five years, just a few protesters returned Friday for a brief Mass as city workers took down crowd-control barricades and media crews packed up.