Public Viewing For Michael Jackson At Neverland Ranch

Michael Jackson’s body is set to be driven by a 30-car motorcade to his Neverland Ranch, where a public viewing will be held reportedly on this Friday, July 3, 2009.  And according to CNN, a private service for family and close friends is then expected to take place this Sunday.

Jackson bought the Neverland estate in 1987 and then turned it into an amusement park. In 2005 he moved out of the mansion after local authorities came in looking for evidence to use against him in his child molestation case.

Following his acquittal, he insisted he’d never return to live at Neverland, but he retained a stake in the property up to his death.

The King of Pop’s family is awaiting the results of an independent autopsy, which was conducted on Monday, before announcing final burial plans.

The Mayor of Jackson’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, Rudy Clay, has publicly asked the Jackson family to consider burying or cremating the pop star in his birthplace.

Clay told Chicago radio station WGN that he expects Michael’s body will be taken for a memorial service at Steel Works ball park in Gary next week.

Clay’s spokeswoman Lalola Burns tells CNN:

“I believe that his body will lie in state in Gary, Indiana.  The Mayor had spoken with a contact of the Jackson family and expressed our interest in having that to be a part of the history of this great family.”

Oh my, that public viewing is going to be INSANE!

UPDATE: The Jackson family has issued a statement regarding the public viewing at Neverland Ranch:

“Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland. Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly.”