Casey Kasem's Family Still Battles Over His Final Resting Place

Casey Kasem (1932-2014)

Casey Kasem’s daughter Kerri Kasem still wants to bring his body back to Los Angeles.

The internationally famous radio host known as "King of the Top 40 Countdown," died in 2014 at age 82. The star suffered a lengthy battle with Lewy body dementia.

His widow, actress Jean Kasem, had his body moved to Oslo, Norway, for burial. Other relatives and friends claimed at the time that Casey had wished to be buried in the Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles.

Kerri is the founder of Kasem Cares, a nonprofit organization that advocates against elder abuse and isolation. Its "Visitation Bill," which aims to provide "an open path for family members to ask the court to rule on visitation" of a loved one, has been passed in 12 states. Its site noted that nine other states have adopted a version of the bill.

When asked if there were plans to get Casey back to the U.S., Kerri told Fox News Digital, "Eventually."

"I can’t say there are plans right now, [but] it will happen," she said. "I just can’t tell you."

Kerri, also a radio host, is adamant that the beloved patriarch belongs in the city he called home. And the feeling she has about his current resting place is "twofold."

"[Norway] is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen," Kerri explained. "It’s a country that is stunning, but it’s not where my dad wanted to be… His final wish was to be buried in California, where he had been living for 58 years."

In 2019, family members of Casey settled dueling lawsuits alleging that he was badly mistreated before his death.

The two sides filed a joint request in the Los Angeles Superior Court to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit by three of Casey's children and his brother against Casey's widow, which claimed her neglect and physical abuse led to his death, as well as a countersuit making similar claims against the plaintiffs that were filed by his widow and another daughter.