State Department Provides New Details About Missing Heart Of Chester County Marine
By Pat Loeb
COATESVILLE, Pa., (CBS) -- The State Department has provided new details of events surrounding the autopsy on a Chester County marine, whose body was returned to his parents without a heart. But KYW Newsradio's Pat Loeb reports it doesn't shed any light on where his heart might be.
Craig and Beverly LaLoup have sued the U.S. and Greek governments over their son's missing heart (See Related Story). Sgt. Brian LaLoup took his own life while stationed in Greece and -- contrary to international conventions -- a Greek hospital performed an autopsy, after which it was discovered his heart had been taken.
New details sent to the LaLoups describe a back and forth battle in which the U.S. embassy demanded the body be released without an autopsy and the Greeks ignored them.
"It is pretty remarkable to imagine these exchanges taking place in Athens," says the LaLoups' attorney, Aaron Friewald.
Friewald says they are pleased the State Department has acknowledged the autopsy was illegal but:
"There are a large number of questions that still have to be answered," says Friewald.
He says the LaLoups were also told the Greeks never responded to multiple requests for an inquiry into the case.