# Removing the heads of cryonics patients... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980 "2003-08-13T19:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/1 "2003-08-13T19:01:18Z")
I just read the news story that reported that Ted Williams’ head was removed from his body before being frozen at Alcor. The head and body are both being stored at Alcor separately. Some people elect to have only the head preserved, figuring that if technology can bring them back, it will also be able to get a new body for them. Since head-only freezing (neurosuspension) is cheaper (less storage space and collant required), some people go for that option. Others choose to pony up the extra dough and have the whole body frozen. But why would anyone have the head removed and then both stored. That would only make it harder to bring him back, not easier, no? I’ve been trying to think of a valid reason for doing this, but could not find one. Can anyone come up with a valid reason for removing the head if you’re going to keep both the head and body? Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/2 "2003-08-13T19:07:13Z")
In case they ran outta dough and couldn’t pay for keeping an intact body, the head is already off? Although, if that is the case why couldn’t they just take it off then? Damn, I don’t know. The whole damn thing just gives me a creepy-factor of 9. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/3 "2003-08-13T20:58:30Z")
I doubt John Henry really wants Ted Williams to be revived. He’s going to be one pissed off dude when he finds out what’s been going on while he was dead. One of Ted’s daughters, Bobby-Jo Ferrell, has claimed that John Henry wanted the body frozen to preserve the DNA which could then be sold for cloning purposes. If preserving the body for future cloning is the real motive behind the freezing, then it wouldn’t be necessary to store the body whole. But on the other hand I can’t think of a particularly good reason to behead it either. For what it’s worth, the SI story includes the claim that eight DNA samples taken from the body are missing. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/4 "2003-08-13T21:09:21Z")
I’m afraid he’s going to come back swinging. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/5 "2003-08-13T21:15:18Z")
Okay, wild speculation: You use the body for DNA samples so you can grow the head a new, _younger_, clone body? (Of course, now I’m picturing his old man head on a toddler’s body, and that’s mildly disturbing.) ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/6 "2003-08-13T22:53:48Z")
**OR** What if they screw up and clone Treat Williams instead? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/7 "2003-08-13T23:00:00Z")
Guys, the story is that 8 samples of Ted’s DNA have already gone missing, and that his head has been accidentally cracked 10 times… John Henry Williams is a total asshole if he forged the “note” from his dad changing his wishes about how his remains were to be disposed of. Especially if he did it for financial gain. As I heard today, his luxury box in hell is paid for and waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/8 "2003-08-13T23:01:05Z")
Oops, missed it when **bilbliophage** mentioned the DNA samples. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bb73d2/32.png) [@Wolfrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfrick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/9 "2003-08-14T00:47:25Z")
They probably made an arrangement to freeze his head, but are storing the body in case a court-order forces them to release him for burial. They’d want to bury the head and body together, I’m pretty sure. ~Wolfrick ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/10 "2003-08-14T21:44:05Z")
According to [this ESPN story](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/story?id=1595663&partnersite=espn) we have some more bizarre developments in the continuing saga of what may have been the best baseball player in the world. Like Yogi said: It ain’t over ‘till it’s over. Apparently the fat lady has yet to sing. I especially enjoy the comment that Ol’ Ted’s separated, frozen, somewhat battered and fractured head is “ghastly.” For the love of Jolt’en Joe, what would you expect? How would you like to get that by a UPS delivery? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-the-heads-of-cryonics-patients/194980/11 "2003-08-14T22:58:57Z")
What a horrible thing to happen to a great, dignified and extremely private man- Popsicle jokes forever. I hope this guy’s kids burn in hell forever (at least the ones who did this).