Neverland Probe Nets Michael's DNA

Mon., Dec. 6, 2004 11:45 AM PST by Sarah Hall

What more can Michael Jackson give? A sample of his saliva, for starters.

The embattled entertainer returned to Neverland Ranch one day after authorities descended on his property once again, citing an "ongoing criminal investigation."

Jackson, on the advice of lawyer Thomas Mesereau, left the property with his children when the search began Friday, but he returned to Neverland on Saturday after officials requested a DNA sample.

With Mesereau by his side, the self-proclaimed King of Pop obligingly opened wide for authorities, who swabbed the inside of his mouth with a cotton swab to obtain the sample. It was the first time Jackson had been asked to provide a DNA sample.

It was unclear exactly how officials planned to use the sample, though it could be used for comparison purposes by both the prosecution and the defense when Jackson's child-molestation trial begins.

(If nothing else, judging from some of the more, um, colorful sales on eBay this year, those saliva-drenched Q-tips could likely raise a pretty penny. We're just sayin'.)

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Monday marked the deadline for both sides of the case to complete the discovery process, in which the prosecution and the defense exchange evidence they have compiled during the pretrial investigation.

Officials reportedly spent 11 hours in all at Neverland over the weekend, focusing the bulk of their efforts on Jackson's bedroom, where animation specialists were brought in to measure and map out the bedroom area and the staircase next to it.

The area is reportedly the scene where, according to critical testimony from the younger brother of Jackson's accuser, Jackson fondled the youngster as the older brother watched from the stairs outside, ABC News reported.

Jackson's legal eagles have attacked the brother's claim as false, saying that no inappropriate touching occurred and that the boy's view from the stairs would have been blocked by boxes that were in the bedroom.

Jackson's trial is set to begin on Jan. 31. He stands charged with 10 felony counts ranging from child molestation to conspiracy and has pleaded innocent across the board. He remains free on $3 million bail.