Jahi McMath is now with her family after the hospital decided to set her free in compliance with a court order due to expire in two days.
Dr. David Durand, the hospital's chief of pediatrics, gave the child's body to the court representative on Sunday, 8 p.m. It was Nailah Winkfield, the Alameda County coroner, who gave her to her family.
Winkfield told the San Francisco Chronicle, "per court order, for a destination unknown. Our hearts go out to the family as they grieve for this sad situation, and we wish them closure and peace."
According to USA Today, the family needed to relocate McMatch from the Children's Hospital because once the restraining order expires on January 7, the hospital will be allowed to remove her ventilator. The family attorney Christopher Dolan refused to mention where they took the McMath's body. The family wanted it to be private.
"It's brought out the best in people and the worst in people," Dolan said in the press conference. "We've had people make threats from around the country. It's sad that people act that way. So for Jahi's safety and those around her, we will not be saying where she went or where she is."
Jahi McMath, 13, was declared officially dead on December 12, 2013. She became brain dead on December 9 after suffering from complications brought by her tonsil surgery leading to cardiac arrest. The family would not accept that she was already dead claiming that they can still hear her heartbeat occasionally.
Three doctors have already checked her and they all agreed that the girl was dead. The Children's Hospital Oakland wanted to remove her life support since then but the McMath family decided to take it into court. The Alameda County court granted them a restraining order which allowed them to prevent the hospital from removing the life support and relocate her as they wish.
