Missing: Samples of Ted Williams' DNA

— -- NEW YORK -- Eight samples of Ted Williams' DNA are missing from the cryonics company where his body is suspended in liquid nitrogen, Sports Illustrated reported.

Williams' head was decapitated by surgeons for the purpose of preserving his body, SI also reported.

The magazine's report, appearing in the issue that hitsnewsstands Wednesday, is based on internal documents, e-mails,photographs and tape recordings supplied by a former employee ofAlcor Life Extension Foundation.

After Williams died July 5, 2002, his body was taken by privatejet to the company in Scottsdale, Ariz. There, Williams' body wasseparated from his head in a procedure called neuroseparation,according to the magazine.

The operation was completed and Williams' head and body werepreserved separately. The head is stored in a steel can filled withliquid nitrogen. It has been shaved, drilled with holes andaccidentally cracked 10 times, the magazine said. Williams' bodystands upright in a 9-foot tall cylindrical steel tank, also filledwith liquid nitrogen.

The procedure, approved by Williams' son, John Henry, anddaughter, Claudia, carries a $136,000 bill. Alcor claims it isstill owed $111,000.

The magazine said that according to a taped conversation betweenformer Alcor chief operating officer Larry Johnson and a boardadviser, eight DNA samples among 182 taken from Williams aremissing without explanation.

Spokeswoman Paula Lemler, wife of Alcor chief executive officerJerry Lemler, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that companyofficials had not seen the article and would have no comment.