OJ Simpson’s longtime attorney and executor Malcolm LaVergne said the deceased ex-NFL star’s brain would not be donated despite receiving several requests from scientists, the New York Post reported.
Simpson, who is infamously linked to the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, died from prostate cancer on April 10. He was 76. LaVergne said it is expected that Simpson would be cremated on Tuesday, but he revealed his family has declined to donate his brain to scientists who want to ascertain if he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Per Mayo Clinic, CTE is a “brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries.” Several ex-NFL players have been diagnosed with the disorder. “With OJ everything’s wild, but I’ve been getting calls from medical centers that are doing CTE testing asking me for OJ’s brain . . . that is not happening,” LaVergne said.
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“I may consult with the children on it, but I haven’t heard anything about it, so it’s just not going to happen. OJ wants all of his body cremated for his children to do what they see fit.”
LaVergne also said Simpson’s cremation is predicted to be done on Tuesday. “That’s what OJ wanted. Those are OJ’s wishes, and that’s what the kids are telling me,” LaVergne said.
“Right now there’s no specific plans for a funeral service,” LaVergne added. “There is however a possibility that there will be a celebration of life-type service at a later date and time which will be limited to Mr. Simpson’s close circle of friends and family.”
Simpson was one of the most famous college footballers before he played in the NFL. While at USC, he captured the Heisman Trophy and went on to play for the 49ers and the Bills. He retired in 1979 to focus on a career in acting, appearing in Hollywood movies such as The Naked Gun.
But by the late 20th century, he had become one of the most controversial figures in the U.S. after he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and Goldman in a trial that attracted millions of viewers in the U.S. and beyond.
In 1994, Simpson was arrested over the murder of his ex-wife and her Goldman. The two were found stabbed to death outside Brown’s home in Los Angeles. Simpson was expected to turn himself in but on the day that was to happen, he tried to flee pursuing police officers in a white Ford Bronco, leading the officers on a slow-speed chase through the Los Angeles area. The chase was broadcast live.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Simpson murdered Brown in a jealous fury, BBC reported. Prosecutors provided evidence including hair, blood and fibre tests connecting Simpson to the murders.
But, according to the defense, Simpson was just being framed by “racist” police officers.
Then came one of the most unforgettable moments when prosecutors asked Simpson to wear a pair of gloves they alleged he wore during the stabbings. Simpson struggled to put the gloves on. One of his lawyers, Johnnie Cochrane, eventually told the jury in his closing arguments: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
In 2008, years after the not-guilty verdict, Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in jail. He was found guilty of an armed robbery in Las Vegas but was granted parole after serving a minimum of nine years.
