From the YTedK.com site (IMO, everyone should check out this site). - The failure to perform an autopsy on the body of Mary Jo Kopechne caused a "public clamor", and drew harsh criticism from both prosecutors and the press. Prior to the inquest, a motion to have the body exhumed in order to perform a belated autopsy was challanged by the Kopechne family. The request to exhume the body was successfully blocked by the Kopechne's lawyer Joseph Flanagan, who was hired and paid for by Ted Kennedy.
Now, there could be several reasons for the Kopechne's actions. For instance, if your daughter had died in an accident (I'm willing to believe that it was a drunken accident and not a deliberate attempt at murder, even though another member of the Kennedy clan later stated he could commit murder and get away with it simply because he was a Kennedy) and you thought there was the possibility that she might be pregnant by a married man, would you want her memory to be tarnished in that way? Then there is the "nothing matters but the party" mentality. Think Wellstone, Cindy Sheehan's son or Mrs. King. They took second place to "the party". Last, would be the fear factor. Would they fear for their own lives if not backing Teddy? I tend to put this one in the tin-foil hat category. My guess is that it's the first one. They have already lost a loved one and just want her to be left in peace. However, if anyone can show where the Kopechne's continued to support Kennedy after this, then I will believe the 2nd scenario.
Fat Teddy is responsible for the death of that girl.
(That girl would be a senior citizen practically now, but I digress.)
Her family, should not be the ones to decide about things involving murder, or call it it negligent homicide, whatever.
Call me a tin foil hat wearer, but I swear, if that were my daughter on that bridge on that night, asshole Teddy would not be walking the halls of Congress today pontificating about the protection of women and their rights, or anything else.
Oh no.