What really happened to Michael Jackson?

Pearl Jr., a Los Angeles-based journalist, film director/producer, thinks it was something sinister. A lifelong fan of Michael Jackson, Pearl Jr. started professionally reporting on the King of Pop's life during his 2005 child molestation trial. She befriended Jackson's followers and continued reporting on his secret life until the pop star apparently passed away on June 25, 2009.

But when confronted with numerous tips that Jackson was still alive, Pearl Jr. decided to investigate what really happened. To date, she's published a book, Pseudocide: Did Michael Jackson Fake His Death To Save His Life?, and produced the documentary Alive? Is Michael Jackson Really Dead?

Pearl Jr. spoke to truTV about the mysteries surrounding Michael Jackson's death and who stands to gain from the Michael Jackson death hoax.

truTV: What was your reaction to Michael Jackson’s death?

Pearl Jr.: I was at the Carolwood house outside where the fans were on June 24. My company Elbow Grease Productions had essentially became a Michael Jackson company, because there was so much to do. We’d produced two documentaries on him by that time, and I had a website up. So I’d been to Carolwood maybe 10 or twenty times since he’d moved out there.. 

On June 24, I’d heard Michael Jackson was missing rehearsals and not feeling well. So I went to Carolwood to talk to fans and see what was happening. A fan told me a doctor had been spending the night for 10 days. These fans are called "the followers." They camped outside his home and followed Michael Jackson everywhere. I saw Dr. Murray’s car leave between three and four that day. I remember the car…

The next day, June 25, I was the first person in the world to tweet that there was an ambulance at Michael’s house. I found out, because a friend of mine I’d met at the 2005 trial sold maps right outside his house and called me. I didn’t think it was something as serious as Michael going into cardiac arrest.

So I tweeted about the ambulance, got dressed, and headed out to Carolwood. On my way, I got a call saying the ambulance left and to head over to UCLA. I arrived just minutes after the ambulance. There was only one fan there at first. Then all hell broke loose. I was there the whole day. I was absolutely devastated and shocked.

truTV: What’s your history with Michael Jackson?

Pearl Jr.: I’ve been a Michael Jackson fan all my life, but I didn’t get directly involved with Michael Jackson until I was credentialed media at the 2005 child molestation trial. I never met him personally. I’ve been part of his world – and we know of each other – through my work.

truTV: What was your involvement during the molestation trial?

Pearl Jr.: I had a TV show called “Trutalk Straight Outta LA.” We produced 13 shows – one for every week of the trial – that were available to over 13 million people. Plus, I did radio interviews and wrote for local newspapers defending Michael Jackson. There was much more for media to do during this trial, because no cameras were allowed in the courtroom.

truTV: What did you make of Michael Jackson’s child molestation charges?

Pearl Jr.: I went into the courtroom as a journalist with an open mind. I’m a mom; and as a mother, you don’t ever want a child molester roaming the streets. But after hearing the testimony and seeing that there was no evidence that proved he had sexual interest in little boys, I believed Michael Jackson was innocent of those charges.

truTV: So, how did you go from devastated by news of Jackson’s death to producing a documentary called Alive? Is Michael Jackson Really Dead?

Pearl Jr.: I started thinking Michael Jackson was alive eight months after the death announcement. I’d heard a lot of clues from the fans who trusted me as a media representative. They constantly asked me to look into it, but I ignored them. I didn’t want to be thought of as a death hoax conspiracist.

It wasn’t until February 2010 that I started looking up these domains registered on June 25 saying Michael Jackson wasn’t dead, that it was a hoax, etc. There were all these domains registered about him coming back before his death. I couldn’t sweep all these clues under the rug. I decided to write a book if I found legitimate, verifiable evidence. Everything that I’d heard from the fans was correct. I published Pseudocide: Did Michael Jackson Fake His Death To Save His Life? in May 2010…

Click here for Part Two.