Details of Fischer's exhumation revealed

In the very early hours of 5th July 2010 a team of experts from Reykjavík Official Cemeteries opened the grave of Bobby Fischer and made space for forensic doctors to stand beside the coffin of Bobby in the ground. At 04:00 hours the Police Commissioner summoned the attorneys of the parties, being me and Vigdís along with Mr. Vilhjálmsson and Mr. Jónsson, attorneys for Ms. Watai and the Targ brothers to the site at Laugadaelir. Also present were the parish minister, rev. Kristinn A. Fridfinnsson, the head of the local health authorities, Dr. Óskar Reykdalsson, two forensic doctors (experts) that carried out the gathering of the samples and then police force that closed off the site and kept all unauthorised persons away.

When the necessary preparations for the forensic doctors had been done and the lid of the coffin of Bobby was ready to be opened, a big tent was erected to seal of any possible view of the exhumation. Thereafter the experts doctors opened the lid of the coffin and took seven different samples from the remains of Bobby Fischer to be able to carry out the DNA test. After the experts had done their job the lid of the coffin was replaced and thus the coffin itself was never removed or lifted to the surface. Then the parish minister blessed the grave in the traditional manner of the Icelandic Church. The coffin was then covered with earth and the tent removed and the experts from the Reykjavik Cemeteries closed the grave and put again grass on the surface.

The early morning of July 5th was a very calm, beautiful summer morning at Laugadaelir, the wind was peaceful and so was the whole of this operation. It was carried with dignity and respect for Bobby Fischer and in absolute privacy and silence. I am personally very grateful to the Police Commissioner, Mr. Kjartansson, in the way he managed to handle this delicate matter without causing any controversy. All other official parties, including the rev. Fridfinnsson, the local medical directors, the director of the Reykjavik Cemeteries, Mr. Ragnarsson, and of course the two forensic experts, that were necessary to carry out the procedure should be thanked for their great professional skills and the way they contributed to make this delicate operation a successful one.

Now the final chapter has already begun. The samples are on their way to a laboratory in Germany and we can expect results shortly, even in a couple of weeks, but of course this could also take longer time, depending on the quality of the samples retrieved. I do not have any date as of yet but I will of course contact you immediately when the results are sent to me.

Then the outcome of the research has to formally be recognised by the District Court of Reykjavík and the final verdict regarding Jinky’s claim will be based on the scientific outcome.

I hope this explains and gives you a full and through details of the events that took place here in Iceland. I am very pleased that the right of Jinky to establish her indentity was recognised by the Supreme Court of Iceland and I am equally pleased that we managed to carry out the exhumation in this swift and silent manner. Again my sincere congratulations to Jinky but we the adults must be aware of the graveness of this matter and the extent of rights that have been granted, and thus the responsibility thrust upon us. However, the wait will be over shortly I hope and a positive outcome pending. My guess is 4-6 weeks until the results are ready.

The exhumation of Bobby Fischer was not done the normal way. His coffin should have been brought up and opened so that it would have been sure that the seven tissue samples that were taken from the alleged remains in that coffin were that of Bobby Fischer. Indeed, the procedure undertaken borders on the doubtful. The lot where Fischer was buried belongs to the family of Gardar Sverisson, a close friend of Miyoko Watai.He had complete access to the area, and in fact, Fischer was buried there in front of the church in an early January morning without the church pastor knowing it.Who knows what could have taken place there between the date of burial and on the days before the exhumation?

Lawyer Samuel Estimo, Jinky and Marilyn Young, GM Eugene
Torre at Fischer's grave in December 2009

Marilyn, Jinky, Philippine Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria, Estimo

Let me again reassure you that the exhumation was done properly and the samples were indeed the ones of Bobby Fischer. The case is closed and you will have to accept that. It is no possibility that Gardar Sverrisson or anyone else would have made any substitution. I will certainly not come forward with such allegations and I advise you strongly from doing so. It is unfounded and could easily be considered as slander.

As it will appear now, the Targ nephews will collect the estate of Bobby Fischer. Of the three claimants thereon, the nephews are the least favored in so far as Bobby was concerned. The two women closest to his heart are Jinky Young and Miyoko Watai, and if he could just have written a last will, he would have bequeathed his entire estate to the two. I doubt if the Targ brothers would get a single kroner in that will.

I am sure Bobby will not like the way his estate will be disposed of. The strong secondary evidences, like the photos, bank remittances to Jinky, the postcards which Bobby sent to Jinky where he signed " Daddy" and even the expensive house and lot that Bobby bought for Jinky in the Philippines, should have been factored in in the disposition of his estate. Jinky will be denied her rightful due to the estate of Bobby Fischer!

As if in a chess game, this is just a post mortem analysis of the moves played in what could appear as the last chapter in the life of Bobby Fischer – bizarre up to the end.