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Inside the Mansion Where Jackson Died
Jackson's family said Wednesday that the singer's body will not be laid in state at Neverland Ranch, where he lived for over a decade and which became synonymous with the singer's eccentricities.
Ending days of speculation about where the memorial service would be held for the pop icon, who died June 25 of apparent cardiac arrest, a Jackson family spokesman said the singer would not be memorialized at the 2,800-acre compound.
"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland. Plans are under way regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly," said Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine in a statement.
Sources have told ABC News that the memorial will be in Los Angeles next week, possibly at the Staples Center. Wednesday's statement included no details about the location or date of the event.
Jackson hadn't lived at Neverland since 2005. He left following his acquittal in a child molestation trial, saying the property -- once replete with a zoo and amusement park -- no longer felt like home.
He died at a posh, rented mansion in L.A.'s exclusive Holmby Hills neighborhood that, at times, has been home to stars including Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Sonny and Cher and the man whose life and death is drawing eerie parallels to Jackson's -- Elvis.
At 17,000 square feet, the three-story, French-style mansion boasts seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and a seven-car garage.
Once on the market for $30 million, the home also features African walnut floors, a Russian-inspired home theater and an infinity bathtub with an ornate faucet that spills water from the ceiling.
"This is by far one of the best homes in the area and this is a very high priced neighborhood," Entertainment Studios Chairman and CEO Byron Allen said. "This place was built for royalty."
And it was a place where Jackson felt comfortable after Neverland ranch was raided by authorities after he was charged with molestation in 2003.
"His home was very important to him," Allen said, "because he stayed there quite a bit and he entertained, and it was a place that was truly his palace."
Jackson's family continues to visit the Holmby Hills mansion. La Toya and Janet Jackson were seen leaving shortly after midnight today. And Randy Jackson was still there early this morning.
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