Domain Registering and Hosting/Website Funny Business

[techlists at phpcoderusa.com]

Hi,

I have a friend who owned http://www.nationwidedr.com/ .  It expired 
along with his hosting while he was in the hospital.

I get the domain was available to be registered.

Here is the interesting part.  Somehow the new domain owner also was 
able to get his WordPress website complete with all of his business 
content.  It appears not to have been changed.

The other part is the domain shows it was registered in 2002, the 
original date it was registered.  I thought when a domain expires and is 
re-registered by another it will show it was original registered on that 
second date.  Am I wrong?

Thoughts on how the new registrant got a hold of my friends WordPress 
website?

The domain and hosting were at GoDaddy.

Something seems fishy - am I wrong?

Thanks!!