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Medical Examiner Kept Omar Mateen's Body Separated From Nightclub Victims During Autopsies

ORLANDO (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The medical examiner who oversaw the 49 autopsies of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting says he kept their bodies separated from the gunman's body.

Dr. Joshua Stephany said in a statement Thursday that the body of gunman Omar Mateen was being held in a building separate from the victims at the gay nightclub Pulse.

PHOTOS: Orlando Nightclub Shooting Victims

He also says the gunman's autopsy was conducted in a separate building from the victims.

Stephany says he decided to do that not because of any requirement but because he thought it's the right thing to do.

The medical examiner says his staffers were able to conduct autopsies on the all victims, as well as identify their bodies, within 72 hours after Sunday morning's shooting.

President Barack Obama is in Orlando Thursday meeting with survivors and families of the victims.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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