U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
The body of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was taken to an El Paso airport and was being flown to Virginia after it was determined he died of “natural causes” and an autopsy was not necessary.
Chris Lujan, a manager for Sunset Funeral Homes, said that Scalia’s body was taken from the facility yesterday [Macau time]. Scalia’s family didn’t think a private autopsy was necessary and requested his remains be flown home as soon as possible, he said.
Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara told The Associated Press she consulted with Scalia’s personal physician and sheriff’s investigators, who said there were no signs of foul play, before concluding the 79-year-old had died of natural causes. He was found dead in his room at a West Texas resort ranch Saturday morning. Guevara says the declaration was made around 1:52 p.m. Saturday [Texas time].
Terry Sharpe, assistant director for operations at El Paso International Airport, said a private plane carrying Scalia’s body departed around 8 p.m. EST (0200 GMT). Scalia’s body was accompanied to the airport by U.S. marshals, he said. He said he didn’t know details about where the plane was headed.
The U.S. Marshals Service referred questions about the flight to Supreme Court officials, who did not immediately respond to inquiries.
Scalia’s weekend death was as much of a shock to those at the ranch, as it was to the rest of the nation
The owner of the West Texas ranch where Scalia died says the justice seemed his usual self at dinner the night before he was found “in complete repose” in his room.
John Poindexter, the owner of Cibolo Creek Ranch near Marfa, told reporters Scalia was part of a group of about 35 weekend guests. He arrived Friday around noon. Poindexter says the group had dinner Friday night and Scalia was his “usual, personable self.” Poindexter says Scalia retired around 9 p.m., saying he wanted a long night’s sleep.
A procession of about 20 law enforcement officers arrived in the early hours Sunday at an El Paso, Texas, funeral home, according to Lujan. He said they had traveled more than three hours from the West Texas resort ranch where the 79-year-old Scalia was found dead in his room Saturday morning.
Kristina Mills, a history teacher at nearby Chapin High School, came to pay her respects and brought flowers.
“Recognizing his contribution to serving our country just compelled me to come,” she said. “I wanted to do yellow roses because for him dying in Texas. I didn’t want his family to have bad memories of Texas.”
The Senate’s Republican leader, backed largely by his party’s White House candidates, essentially told a Democratic president in his final year in office not to bother asking lawmakers to confirm a nominee for the lifetime seat. AP
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