A Senate committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday, July 15, which was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta. The bill would allow family members to request autopsy reports and other evidence remain sealed if their child was murdered.
Angela Chavez, Sandra’s aunt, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and said “No one wants to remember their loved ones in an autopsy photo,” according to The Associated Press.
Sandra’s family has fought to keep Sandra’s autopsy report and photos sealed, although the prosecutor and lead detective on the case said the information in the grand jury transcript has more disturbing details than the autopsy report itself.
A judge released the grand jury transcript last month, but decided to keep the autopsy photos sealed forever in fear that bloggers and those on the “fringe of the media” would get their hands on the photos and plaster them on the Internet.
The ultimate decision to release the autopsy report is up to the San Joaquin County Sheriff, and the judge in San Joaquin Superior Court temporarily sealed the report last month and scheduled a hearing on the issue.
The ongoing battle over Sandra’s autopsy report continues in court in Stockton on July 23.
Good thing they are pushing the bill.
"A Senate committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday, July 15, which was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta. The bill would allow family members to request autopsy reports and other evidence remain sealed if their child was murdered."
Have respect for the family of the murdered/dead!
CN