Feud over woman's head

A Colorado family and an Arizona cryonics firm are fighting in court over who gets the head of a woman who died this month.

At issue is whether 71-year-old Mary Robbins' head and brain will be preserved by cryonics – extremely cold temperatures – in the expectation that future technology may be able to bring her back to life and restore her health. Robbins, of Colorado Springs, died from cancer on Feb 9.

In 2006, she signed documents giving the Alcor Life Extension Foundation of Scottsdale, Arizona, the right to cryogenically preserve her head and brain. She also agreed to give the non-profit foundation a $50,000 annuity to cover preservation costs.



Her daughter, Darlene Robbins, said her mother changed her mind in her last days because of the procedures that preservation would have required before she died, including tubes in her throat and nose, intravenous lines and medications.

Mary Robbins signed new paperwork that would give her family the annuity, the daughter said.

Darlene Robbins said she opposes a suggestion by Alcor to take her mother's head and that the family get custody of the body. The case continues.

There's a news video here.