An incredibly somber Howard K. Stern appeared on Larry King Live tonight to speak about the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son Daniel. He confirmed some of the stuff already reported on and shed light on some new things.

According to Howard K. Stern:

He is the father of Anna Nicole's baby. He said that according to the timing of when she got pregnant, he knows he is the father and that Larry Burkhead is not. Howard also said he and Anna Nicole have been in a relationship for a very long time but wanted to keep it secret because he was her lawyer. He said they are in love. Hmmmm...
Anna Nicole named the baby Dannie-Lynn Hope.
Howard is willing to take a DNA test to prove he is the baby's father. He said he and Anna Nicole have told Larry Burkhead he is not the father and is also disgusted how Burkhead chose to deal with this through the media (aka: appearing on Entertainment Tonight) during such a difficult time for Anna Nicole.
At some point Howard and Anna Nicole will get married.
Anna Nicole did release the pictures of Daniel to the media so she could create the Daniel Wayne Smith Charitable foundation. She has not personally received any of the money and anything she gets will go to the charity.

No further word yet on the cause of Daniel's death.
Daniel was planning on moving to the Bahamas to live with Anna Nicole and also go to school there.
Jew was there

At one point in the hospital room during the night before his death, Daniel said to Howard, "How come I'm so tired?" Daniel was not in a chair (as previously reported) when Anna Nicole found him and realized he wasn't breathing. He was lying next to her, having moved into the same bed in the middle of the night.   Hern said it would likely have taken between 20 and 30 minutes for him to grow lethargic and fall into a progressively deeper sleep before dying two or three hours later. Hospital records previously indicated that a code blue was called to the room, where Stern was also present, at 9:40 a.m.

When they realized Daniel was gone, Anna was at the end of the bed, hugging his legs and praying to Jesus that he take her instead of Daniel.
Anna never screamed "you did this!" in the hospital room to anyone.
No blood and vomit was found in the room as reported.
They did have to sedate Anna as she refused to leave her son's side.
Daniel was previously hospitalized for a week for severe back pains and depression (not

Daniel Smith was one famous celebuspawn who apparently had no desire to follow in his parent's footsteps.

So testified a family friend in the Bahamas Tuesday in the ongoing inquest into the death of the late son of the late Anna Nicole Smith, just hours after a toxicologist took the stand claiming that the high amount of drugs found in Daniel's system were likely the result of an "intentional ingestion."

Ford Shelley, the son-in-law of G. Ben Thompson, a former boyfriend of the reality star and the developer who owned the Nassau home Smith and Howard K. Stern resided in the months leading up to her death, told the Coroner's Court that the 20-year-old boy was a "brilliant" child who had for years been "living in a shell" as a result of his mother's overshadowing fame and larger-than-life public persona.

"He wanted to break free," Shelley said. "He loved his mother but didn't want to be known as her son."

Shelley also rejected speculation that the boy had been abusing drugs, saying that he wouldn't—and physically couldn't—have been an addict, claiming he "couldn't even hold his liquor" and was "afraid of his own shadow."

While on the stand, however, Shelley did admit to witnessing an incident involving pills and Stern shortly after the boy's death.

Shelley claimed he saw the attorney and former Anna Nicole confidante find two pills in the pocket of a pair of pants belonging to the recently deceased Smith.

"He walked into the bathroom and flushed the two pills," he said. "I asked Howard what he had done, and Howard said he 'took care of a problem.' "

For his part, Stern was present in the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing but did not speak during the proceedings. Anna Nicole's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, was also on hand for the testimony.

Shelley further testified that while Daniel had a history of serious depression and had recently ended a relationship with his girlfriend, he did not believe that the boy was suicidal at the time of his death.

His account of Daniel's state of mind differed from evidence proffered later in the day by Dr. William Lee Hern, the director of the Medical Examiner's office in Miami-Dade County, where official toxicology tests on the boy were carried out.

While eight different drugs, a combination of antidepressants and stimulants, were found in Daniel's body at the time of his death, "clearly the methadone was the key in understanding this death."

"But for the methadone, he would not have died."

Put in a drink

Hern further claimed that, while he could not know for certain whether he did so deliberately or unintentionally, the large amount of drugs taken by Daniel in such a short amount of time—a onetime dosage of four pills rather than one, possibly diluted in a drink—lent itself to "a high degree of probability" that the overdose of drugs was "an intentional ingestion."

"Based on the amount in the stomach, it was not an attempt to get high," he said. "It was enough to kill him, with some left over unabsorbed. If what was in his blood hadn't killed him, the remainder would have continued its toxic effect."

Hern said that the boy likely took a lethal dose of methadone tablets around 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2006—three days after the birth of his sister Dannielynn. Hern said it would likely have taken between 20 and 30 minutes for him to grow lethargic and fall into a progressively deeper sleep before dying two or three hours later.

Hospital records previously indicated that a code blue was called to the room, where Stern was also present, at 9:40 a.m.

The inquest resumed hearing testimony Wednesday.

A former companion of Anna Nicole Smith said Wednesday that her attorney-turned-boyfriend Howard K. Stern took several photographs of the collapsed body of her late 20-year-old son for profit.

G. Ben Thompson, a South Carolina developer, testified that Stern took about four pictures of Daniel Smith's body after he died Sept. 10, 2006, while visiting his celebrity mother three days after she gave birth to her daughter in a Bahamian hospital.

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Stern said the photographs "might be worth some money one day," according to Thompson, who was embroiled in an ownership dispute with Stern over the Nassau mansion where he lived with Anna Nicole before her Feb. 8 death of a prescription drug overdose.

"I was totally shocked he was taking pictures of a dead child laying in that bed," Thompson testified at the inquest into the death while being questioned by an attorney for Anna Nicole's long-estranged mother, Virgie Arthur.

Stern's attorney Shaka Serville said Thompson first made the allegations in October 2007 while appearing on a TV show hosted by Geraldo Rivera. Serville accused him of fabricating the statement about Stern as retaliation over the dispute for the $900,000 estate.

Thompson, who briefly dated Anna Nicole, says he advanced her money for the Nassau mansion but she did not honor an agreement to repay the debt. Anna Nicole, who lived there with Stern in the months before her death, claimed the house was a gift.

Serville said that Stern, who is the executor of Anna Nicole's estate, took the photographs of the young man's body to prove to her that Daniel was indeed dead. Witnesses have said she was highly distraught after his collapse.

The developer's son, Gayther Thompson, also testified Wednesday. He alleged that Stern appeared to dispose of two white pills that he had found in Daniel's clothes after his collapse in the hospital room.

An autopsy concluded that Daniel Smith died from a combination of drugs, including methadone and antidepressants. Police have said there is no evidence of homicide. So far, about 32 witnesses have testified before a Bahamian jury, which will formally determine what killed him.

Testimony in the inquest is adjourned until March 17, while court officials seek testimony from witnesses including Anna Nicole's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead, the father of the late Playboy Playmate's 1-year-old daughter.

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The death of Daniel Smith finally has people talking—after being debriefed and sworn in.

The inquest into the 20-year-old's sudden death on Sept. 10, 2006, began Monday in the Bahamas after being postponed three times due to procedural delays and, most recently, inclement weather.

Among the first of the 35 or so witnesses scheduled to testify during the proceedings, which will likely extend into next month, were the Bahamian emergency room doctor who treated Smith and Anna Nicole Smith's lawyer-turned-paramour Howard K. Stern, who was asked by about the apparently close-knit relationship between mother and son.

"She was very close to Danny and I saw it," Stern said during the hearing presided over by Magistrate William Campbell at the Coroner's Court at the Royal Victoria Gardens in Nassau. "Almost every time I saw Anna Nicole, she had Danny with her."

The former Playboy Playmate had given birth to daughter Dannielynn Hope only three days before Daniel was found unconscious in her room at Nassau's Doctor's Hospital.

Dr. James Iferenta, an anesthesiologist who was on duty when Daniel died, said that Anna Nicole—who those close to her said never recovered from the shock of losing her son—wouldn't let go of the young man, even when the doctors arrived at the scene.

"There was difficulty getting her out of the room," Iferenta testified. "She clung to Smith during my time in the room."
 

Stern also described going to identify Daniel's body in the morgue, but Attorney General's Office attorney Neil Brathwaite, who handled the questioning, didn't ask him about any events leading up to Daniel's death. Brathwaite said, however, that Stern could possibly be recalled as a witness. Also Monday, an immigration department official described Daniel's behavior upon his arrival at Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport the night before he died, and a criminal records officer entered autopsy photos into evidence. An autopsy conducted last year by Dr. Cyril Wecht, a private pathologist hired by Anna Nicole who is on the list of possible witnesses, determined that Daniel died of a lethal combination of methadone, antidepressants and sleep aids, but the Bahamian government hasn't yet formally recognized Wecht's findings.

Bahamian authorities have said that they do not suspect foul play and are holding these proceedings to determine what killed Daniel once and for all, but the inquest jury can recommend that charges be filed depending on what comes out during the hearing.

The inquest was originally supposed to begin a year ago but was postponed when the original magistrate on the case was replaced by Robert Gomez. Then, things were almost underway again in March when Stern's lawyers protested the makeup of the jury after they were barred from asking questions during the selection process.

Hurricane Noel then interfered with an Oct. 30 start date and the inquest, now with Campbell presiding, was pushed to Nov. 19. Testimony is scheduled to resume Tuesday.
 

"Jurors' responsibilities will include assessing potential liability in Daniel Smith's death, and they could recommend that prosecutors pursue criminal charges."

Said Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez in the Bahamas.

Now that we finally got confirmation that Anna Nicole Smith died of an "accidential overdose" of prescription drugs, another investigation is speeding up in the Bahamas.

As the various players prepare to participate in the inquest, Anna Nicole Smith's former friends, G. Ben Thompson and his son-in-law Ford Shelley, share the revelation that Daniel may have been grappling with anorexia.

"[Anna] was worried he was anorexic," Shelley tells Entertainment Tonight's Mark Steines.

"He had a touch of anorexia and depression and we had been told that he had been hospitalized [before]," says Thompson.

On September 10, 2006, Anna Nicole's son died at the age of 20 while visiting his mom and newborn baby sister, Dannielynn, in the Bahamas. The cause of death was later determined to be a lethal combination of methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro.

Daniel had reportedly been depressed over a relationship, and Thompson says he believes the young man had been prescribed medication for his depression.

Along with that, Thompson says, "He just couldn't eat."


PHOTO: Daniel Smith and His Mom Anna Nicole Smith In Happier Days Before Their Deaths

"Daniel was going through a rough time, emotionally," says Shelley. "We know that because we shared those months with Anna and she told us."

This was the first part of the tragedy that took over the end of Anna Nicole's life. The inquest into Daniel Smith's untimely death begins tomorrow, Tuesday, in the Bahamas, and on CNN's Showbiz Tonight, AJ Hammer and TMZ.com Managing editor Harvey Levin discussed the role of Howard K. Stern.

Hammer said on the CNN nightly entertainment television show: What happened to Daniel? Anna Nicole's 20-year-old son died just five months before she did from a lethal combination of Methadone and two anti-depressants.

A formal inquest starts this week in the Bahamas. As many as 40 people will be called as witnesses. And CNN's Showbiz Tonight can tell you, Howard K. Stern will be the subject of scrutiny.

Levin chimed in: "There will be at least one witness who is scheduled to testify that Howard K. Stern gave Daniel the Methadone that contributed to his death, and then flushed the remainder down the toilet after he died. I'm not saying that's true…"

A.J. responded, "True or not, the chief magistrate overseeing the inquest has said that Anna Nicole's mysterious death has increased the interest in Howard K. Stern."


PHOTO: Howard K. Stern Faces Hungry Media With Increased Scrutiny In The Bahamas

As noted by many, Stern is the common thread. And so far, he seems to have escaped the serious questions and the mysteries that have surrounded the death of the mother and her son.

No more says Mr. Levin, "The common link is that both were around one person, in this case, Howard K. Stern. It's got to raise some issues, not necessarily that he killed somebody, but what's going on that people who should not be dying are dying on his watch?"


PHOTO: Daniel Smith's Body Being Put In A Hearse About 6 Months Ago

A few comments from the Reputation Doctor regarding Howard K. Stern's reputation in crisis.

Howard K. Stern's reputation continues to be in crisis and he also continues to be in denial.
As Daniel Smith's inquest begins this week, look for all eyes to be on Howard K. Stern's potential role in Daniel's death.

Stern's involvement

A few key questions: 1) Did Howard give Daniel any of the drugs which killed him? 2)What was Howard and Daniel's relationship like just before Daniel's death, tense or friendly, and why? 3) Did Daniel think Howard's relationship with his mother was good or bad for her and why? 4) Did Howard have a potential motive for having Daniel out of his mother's life? Howard K. Stern has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion. The court of public opinion is just as important or more important than the court of law for the long term in high profile cases like this. In my expert opinion, Howard K. Stern is the next O.J. However, I personally think Stern may get away with murder- twice. The evidence may not be there to actually prove it in the court of law, but many believe he is already guilty in the court of public opinion.

As I have said many times before, the truth will set Howard free!
In my opinion, Howard will soon be considered among "the walking dead" in the court of public opinion like O.J. I believe his lies will leave him in a cold world of denial, hubris and loneliness. We must remember Howard K. Stern was working for Anna Nicole Smith for "free" (on contingency with outside expenses being paid by his parents and Anna Nicole) for many years and he had plans of reaping his reward when Anna's appeals finally ended for her estate settlement from her 2nd husband and billionaire, J. Howard Marshall. Many believe Daniel and Dannielynn put a wrench in Stern's long-term plans to officially marry Anna Nicole and enjoy her riches. The bottom line is Anna Nicole is now dead and so is her son, Daniel and Dannielynn will soon be living with her biological father. As a result, Howard K. Stern's house of cards are crashing down. In my opinion, his reputation will also continue to be in crisis. However, he has one last hope: to enter "a 12-step program for his reputation" and it would begin with being honest with himself and then it must include telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in the court of law and the court of public opinion. This would require hiring a seasoned reputation management and crisis PR counselor. Sadly, I think fear will keep him from doing the right thing.

Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be a major challenge, but ultimately the rewards of repairing your reputation will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™

About Mike Paul