Famous Names Among Files Seized In Wecht InvestigationPOSTED: 4:03 pm EDT June 8,
2006 ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. -- The charges against former Allegheny County coroner Cyril Wecht include theft of services, mail fraud and wire fraud.He's accused of using his former office of coroner for his private benefit.But during testimony about evidence seized in this case, many famous names came up: Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, Mary Jo Kopechne, Jonny Gammage.What do those five names have to do with the ongoing federal criminal investigation of Wecht? That's what Wecht's attorneys want to know.They're citing the seizing of Wecht's private files on all of those cases to argue Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were out of the bounds of their warrant when they searched Wecht's private office last year.Wecht has been a private consultant and lecturer on many high-profile national cases.FBI agents acknowledged on cross-examination that a folder on the death of Elvis Presley was taken during their search of Wecht's private office. So were two folders on the death of Marilyn Monroe.Rocker Kurt Cobain's name appeared on yet another seized Wecht file.Also taken: files on the death Mary Jo Kopechne in Sen. Ted Kennedy's car and the death of Jonny Gammage in a case involving Brentwood police.Wecht's attorneys claim the search and seizure went beyond what their warrant authorized.The agents were looking for boxes on private autopsies allegedly moved from the coroner's office to Wecht's private firm.Meanwhile, Wecht's lawyers asked the judge to take a second look at the search of computers seized from the coroner's office.The defense said prosecutors sought the computers for evidence they were used to prepare a private report and thank-you notes for Wecht.But the Wecht team said their computer expert discovered the FBI instead did searches on Wecht family members and Wecht's private attorney, David Armstrong.Wecht's attorneys can't comment because what they've called a virtual gag order in the case has been upheld."I feel very constrained as to anything I can say publicly now. And so I won't be commenting publicly on this issue, based on the court's ruling today," said defense attorney Mark Rush. Related Links: More County News Copyright 2006 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |











