Jenni Rivera DNA Tests Being Carried Out to Identify Body Parts After Plane Crash
Jenni Rivera's remains may be identified by DNA tests being carried out by Mexican authorities after body remains were found at the location earlier this week.
Remains found are believed to be that of Rivera and six other people who were in the private plane when it crashed in northern Mexico recently. It is hoped that DNA tests can confirm the identity of the body found, which officials believe to be Rivera's. However, the body found was in such bad condition that police and family were unable to identify it, although a driver's license belonging to the singer indicates that it was indeed her.
Officials have also said that it could take days to analyze the crash site and figure out why the plane went down.
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Away from the crash location officials have also been investigating the owners of the place, Starwood Management of Las Vegas. It has been reported that one of the company's planes was seized in September by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in McAllen, Texas, according to The Associated Press.
A spokesperson of the State's Agency of Investigations has said that the bodies were found about 70 miles south of Monterrey at around 5 p.m. local time on Monday, according to El Comercio.
The spokesperson said, "The bodies were badly affected by the accident and we are told they will do DNA tests for recognition, so that the family will be informed with the details of this procedure once they reach the Medical Examiner's Office in Monterrey."
The bodies were recovered and transported to Monterrey's Medical Examiner's Office on Monday.
Rivera, 43, was among seven people on board the 1969 Learjet 25 heading from the northern city of Monterrey to the central Mexican city of Toluca at 3 a.m. Sunday following a concert performance.
However, just 10 minutes after take off it was reported that aviation authorities lost contact with the private jet plane, sparking fears that there had been a crash. Those worse fears were confirmed later when wreckage was found hours later.
The news of the bodies being found comes soon after Juan Rivera, the singer's brother, said that they hoped she would be found alive. The family had tried to maintain hope despite the singer's driver's license being found at the site of the crash.
"In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK," Juan told reporters outside of the family home near Long Beach, Calif. on Dec. 10.
"We thank God for the life that he has given my sister ... For all the triumphs and successes she has had, and we expect that there will be more in the future," he added.
Rivera was accompanied by four members of her entourage, including her publicist, makeup artist and two pilots during the flight.
"There is nothing recognizable, neither material nor human in the wreckage," transportation and communication minister Gerardo Ruiz Esparza told the Televisa network.
It is still unclear what exactly caused the crash, although new reports suggest that the 43-year-old plane had prior faults in 2005.
A fuel system malfunction allegedly caused a fault in one of the plane's wings, during takeoff although no one was injured during the incident, according to Daily Mail.
"I want to thank you all for your support, and please remember her with all your heart," Rivera's father Pedro said outside his Lakewood, Calif. home.
