DNA confirms Larry Birkhead is father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter. The psychic twins were right.
BY: Actress Archives | Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Larry Birkhead burst from the closed-door hearing in the Bahamas today, raised his hands high, and yelled "
I told you so!" to the masses of press and people gathered outside after it was revealed through DNA tests within a 99.9999 percent certainty that he is the father of Dannielynn, the baby girl born to
Anna Nicole Smith last September. Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern is going to have to change her name to Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead because the photographer finally has legal proof from DNA tests that he fathered
Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, not her partner and attorney, Howard K. Stern.
Anna Nicole Smith gave birth to Dannielynn in a Bahamian hospital last September (the same hospital where her son Daniel Smith died just days later) and since her birth, Larry Birkhead has alleged that he was the baby's father, not Howard K. Stern. Stern was listed on the birth certificate with
Anna Nicole Smith and had been the baby girl's sole parent since
Anna Nicole Smith died two months ago at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Howard K. Stern has said that he will not challenge Larry Birkhead for the custody of Dannielynn should DNA tests prove that Larry is the father of
Anna Nicole Smith's baby.
Howard K. Stern spoke to the press today after the DNA tests of Dannielynn were announced in the Bahamas. He was quoted by E Online, "
My feelings for Dannielynn have not changed. I'm not going to fight Larry Birkhead for custody. I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure that he gets sole custody."
So, what's next for Larry Birkhead and the daughter and heir to the
Anna Nicole Smith estate? The DNA tests determine scientifically that Birkhead is the father of Dannielynn, but there are naturally a few legal issues that need to be ironed out. Believe it or not, even though nothing has happened quickly in the life and death of
Anna Nicole Smith (it took weeks just for her to be buried), the custody of Dannielynn Hope Marshall may switch quickly because a hearing is scheduled in the Bahamas to determine custody of the baby girl on Friday. Last week, Virgie Arthur, the estranged mother of
Anna Nicole Smith, filed paperwork asking to be named the guardian ad litem of Dannielynn and the hearing was scheduled, but now it's likely to take on a whole new spin with the DNA test results being announced today.
The third major figure in the months that have followed the death of
Anna Nicole Smith, her estranged mother, Virgie Arthur spoke to the press today as well and seems ready to work with Larry Birkhead towards the best future for her granddaughter. Arthur was quoted by E!, "
All I care about and all I ever cared about is the safety and well-being of my little granddaughter, Dannielynn. I look forward to working with Larry raising my granddaughter and doing what is very best for her."
Virgie Arthur was even asked how
Anna Nicole Smith might respond to the DNA results today if she were alive, to which Arthur replied, "
I think she would be happy to know that Dannielynn will find out who her father is."
Larry Birkhead, Howard K. Stern, and Virgie Arthur were all allowed to attend the meeting today that announced the results of the DNA tests for the daughter of
Anna Nicole Smith. Larry Birkhead attended the meeting with his brother, his sister, and their kids. In an unusual move for a saga that has been followed by press and paparazzi since the birth of Dannielynn last September, no reporters were allowed in the courtroom and the people involved had to get a judge to allow them to discuss the results after the announcement. Per Bahamian law, what happens in closed-door hearings is usually under a gag order. Very little in the saga of
Anna Nicole Smith is under a gag order.
Dannielynn, through Howard K. Stern's assistance, and Larry Birkhead both submitted to DNA samples on March 21st. Those samples were then sent to Dr. Michael Baird, an Ohio-based DNA specialist who tested them and came up with the results that proved that Larry Birkhead is the father of the daughter of
Anna Nicole Smith. Baird said, as quoted by E!, "
Essentially, [Birkhead]'s the biological father. Congratulations, Larry."
http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=5004
