Brian Jordan: Ex-LACFD member claims he was ORDERED to take photos of Kobe Bryant crash scene
CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA: An ex-LACFD member has claimed that he was ordered to take photographs of the Kobe Bryant crash scene. Brian Jordan, a former captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department testified in the trial that he does not seem to remember being at the site of the crash due to memory issues, but he recalled that high-ranking officials asked him to take pictures.
"I followed many instructions that day but was told 'take pictures, take pictures, take pictures,'" Jordan said. A Chief from LA Co. FD, however, denied ever asking Jordan to take photos of the site, reported TMZ. Jordan retired from LA Co. FD in 2021 partly because of the mental anguish he had to go through due to the incident tormenting him. He had to leave the courtroom several times as he was asked questions.
READ MORE
Vanessa Bryant fans slam trolls for fat-shaming her at NBA All-Star Game: 'When will we learn?'
Judge says Vanessa Bryant cannot show ALL horrifying messages she got after Kobe’s death to jury
Jordan was asked if any of the photos he took showed body parts, to which he responded saying, "Thank you, now I see intestines in my head." Turning to the judge at one point, he said, "I don't want to hear this drama."
Raul Versales, a deputy with the LA Sheriff's Department, said that he did not visit the crash scene but received approximately 30 photos from Deputy Doug Johnson. Johnson had previously said that he had no regrets about taking photos of the remains. He claimed that higher-ups with LACFD ordered him to do so. Another member of the LA Sheriff's Department, Rafael Mejia, reportedly said that he was sent the sensitive photographs, which he sent to Versales.
In December last year, Vanessa Bryant expressed her fear about trolls releasing pictures of her husband Kobe and daughter Gianna's remains, which were taken just moments after they died in a helicopter crash. Bryant claimed that the knowledge of photos showing the death of her daughter and husband were "out there" caused her "constant fear and anxiety." She said that she had trouble sleeping and was depressed.
Bryant wrote in a recent filing as part of her ongoing litigation against Los Angeles County, "Since viewing the photo, I've been tormented with thoughts of who took it and whether it depicts my husband. It infuriates me that the people I trusted to protect the dignity of my husband and daughter abused their positions to obtain souvenirs of their deaths, as though possessing pictures of their remains somehow makes them special. I imagine Kobe watching over what occurred at that crash scene, and I am overcome by anger and emotion."
"I feel sick at the thought that deputies and firefighters have gawked at photos of my husband's and child's bodies without any reason. I also feel extreme sadness and anger knowing that photos of my husband's and daughter's bodies were laughed about while shown at a bar and awards banquet," Bryant added, as reported by TMZ.
Bryant said that trolls add fuel to the fire by threatening her saying that they promise to have the photos released. She is particularly anxious and fearful of the possibility that her children might uncover the pictures someday in the future. "For the rest of my life, one of two things will happen: either close-up photos of my husband's and daughter's bodies will go viral online, or I will continue to live in fear of that happening," Bryant said.
The fatal helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the NBA star and his daughter Gianna took place on January 26, 2020. Kobe's grieving wife filed a lawsuit last year against Los Angeles County for negligence and invasion of privacy. She also accused the county sheriff and fire department of improper usage of graphic photos from the crash site, adding that she was emotionally disturbed by the images. Some of the photos allegedly showed graphic remains of the bodies at the crash site.
However, LA County insists that her agony might have stemmed from the grief over losing her loved ones, and not from the crash photos being disseminated among a relatively small group of people. They further insist that the photos in question were never shared in public and were only circulated among other County employees.