Ind. Company Rumored To Be Crafting Jackson's Casket

BATESVILLE, Ind. -- The tiny town of Batesville, Ind., may be a world away from the glamour of Hollywood, but it's rumored it will play a major role in the farewell for music legend Michael Jackson.

TMZ.com reported that Jackson's casket is being manufactured by the Batesville Casket Company, a Ripley County institution for 120 years, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

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The gossip site claims that the $25,000 "Promethean" model has a blue velvet interior with a mirror finish, and is the same type used to bury singer James Brown.

Representatives with the Batesville Casket Company would neither confirm nor deny Jackson's casket was being made there, but some workers weren't as discreet.

"It's got 14-karat gold on it and it's a polished bronze because it's got no paint on it. It's polished out," said employee Tony Ripperger. "Everybody does it by hand. They polish it all by hand. It takes a while to polish it out."

The rumors have spread through the 6,000-person town as well. Residents said they're honored that the family of the Gary-native would choose a company in his home state.

"All the big, brand name things he could chose and all the places they could have them make it -- I think it's pretty neat they would chose a small town Indiana place," said resident Kandis Gabbard.

A public memorial service for Jackson is planned for Tuesday morning at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Jackson, 50, collapsed and died last week after suffering cardiac arrest.