Casey Kasem, the former host of American Top 40 and voice of Shaggy from Scooby Doo, has been buried in Norway six months after his death.
The burial occurred at Vestre Gravlund, a cemetery in Oslo. The decision to bury the body thousands of miles away from Kasem’s home in California has renewed interest in a family feud that was ongoing well before the former radio personality died in June.
After news of the burial, which was conducted by his wife Jean, Kasem’s daughter Kerri posted on Facebook: “This morning my family and I learned that my Dad’s abusive wife Jean Thompson Kasem and their daughter Liberty conned a cemetery in Norway into burying my Dad there”. She added that her father had made it clear that he wished to be buried in the United States.
Kerri Kasem, who is one of Kasem’s adult children from his first marriage, and Jean Kasem, who was married to him for more than 30 years, fought over who had the right to care for the DJ in the last months of his life. The battle ultimately ended in court with Jean Kasem claiming his children were attempting to prematurely end their father’s life.
On Monday, Kerri Kasem’s publicist, Danny Deraney, said: “Clearly the family is not happy and they understand that Jean can bury him wherever she wants, even if it is not what Casey wanted. But the kids are at peace knowing that they got their Dad’s final moments.”
The star became a household name in American during the 70s when his American Top 40 show, which ran down the most popular songs in the US chart, turned into one of the most popular radio shows in the country.
