Imprisoned Simpson misses funeral for younger sister

O.J. Simpson's lawyer and a close friend say the former football star imprisoned in Nevada is upset about missing his younger sister's funeral.

Attorney Yale Galanter said Simpson was saddened but resigned to being banned from traveling to Carmelita Durio's funeral Wednesday in Elk Grove, Calif.

Durio died April 6 in a Sacramento hospital at age 60.

"Imagine having someone you're close with pass away, and you can't be with your family," Galanter said.

"You can't grieve and mourn with the people you love. It's difficult."

Galanter said he visited Simpson on Monday at Lovelock State Prison, where the 62-year-old NFL hall of famer is serving nine to 33 years. Simpson was convicted in October of robbing and kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint at Palace Station.

Nevada prisons chief Howard Skolnik said state policy prohibits furloughs for medium-security inmates such as Simpson.

Simpson friend Tom Scotto, who said he speaks often with Simpson by phone, described Simpson as distraught by Durio's death.

Scotto said Simpson has a job mopping and cleaning toilets. Simpson plays dominoes with other inmates and reads suspense novels by writers including James Patterson.