Fans Are Flocking to the Wrong Graves, Incorrectly Identified as Kobe and Gianna's
“As part of our commitment to all families, we guard their privacy and do not discuss specific matters with the media. However, we can confirm that a photo circulating on certain websites is not the final resting place of Kobe and Gianna Bryant," the cemetery said in a statement.
By Heather Navarro ••
NBCLA
A fenced-off private grave site decorated with purple and gold flowers has been mistakenly labeled as the final resting place for Kobe and Gianna Bryant, drawing fans from near and far.
A fenced-off private gravesite decorated with purple and gold flowers has been mistakenly labeled as the final resting place for Kobe and Gianna Bryant, drawing fans from near and far.
Officials at the cemetery in Orange County said the site is not where the Bryants have been buried, and asked the public to respect the family's privacy.
NBCLA
From top-left, clockwise: Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli and pilot Ara Zobayan, died on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the helicopter they traveled in crashed in Los Angeles.
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the court after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 14, 2014 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list with a free throw during the second quarter.
Getty Images
ORLANDO, FL – JUNE 14: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles with his wife Vanessa and his daughters Natalia and Gianna after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game Five of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. Kobe and Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, Jan. 26, 2020. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game news conference with daughters Natalia and Gianna Bryant as he celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 17: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
OCC
This undated photo released by Orange Coast College shows its head baseball coach John Altobelli. The Altobelli family has confirmed that John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa were among those killed in the helicopter crash with NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Calabasas, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Alyssa played on the same team as Gianna, said Altobelli’s brother Tony, who is the sports information director at the school. (Orange Coast College via AP)
John Altobelli, Wife Keri and Daughter Alyssa Just as Bryant was passionate about basketball, John Altobelli had a deep love for the game of baseball. He coached at Orange Coast College. He was with the program for 27 years, leading the Pirates to four state titles en route to more than 700 career wins. Last year, he was the American Baseball Coaches Association as an ABCA/Diamond National Coach of the Year. Wife Keri and daughter Alyssa also were killed in Sunday's crash.
Family Photo
Payton played basketball with Bryant's daughter Gianna. Family members said she loved playing the game and described Sarah as the heart of their family.
Courtesy of Margaret Bray
Ara Zobayan, described as an experienced instructor and charter pilot who had flown celebrities like Kylie Jenner and her niece Dream and Lorenzo Lamas, was at the helm of the helicopter as it traveled to Newbury Park where the girls aboard were to have a basketball tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy. He and all aboard, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter, perished in the crash Jan. 26, 2020.
Christina Mauser was a girls basketball coach at a nearby private elementary school. She is survived by her husband, who founded a popular Orange County band, and three young children. Her husband said she worked with Bryant at a clinic at Mamba Sports Academy.
A Daily Mail article from Feb. 14 posted photos of a private area, identifying it as the Bryants' graves.
While death certificates did identify Pacific View Memorial Park as where the Bryants would be laid to rest, officials said the plots pictured were incorrect.
They also said they had no plans to reveal the correct plots out of respect to the family.
LAPD advised that no screen would be showing the memorial outside of Staples Center. Ted Chen reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m., Feb. 21, 2020.
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Pacific View Memorial Park released the following statement:
“As part of our commitment to all families, we guard their privacy and do not discuss specific matters with the media. However, we can confirm that a photo circulating on certain websites is not the final resting place of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. We ask that the public respect the privacy of the family whose loved one is interred at the pictured location.”
The cemetery is also where John Wayne, William Cagney and other notable actors have been buried.
