LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON - There was no evidence of trauma or foul play in the death of Michael Jackson, officials said, but additional tests will be needed to find out how the musician died.
“The cause of death has been deferred,” said Craig Harvey of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office in broadcast remarks Friday. “The medical examiner has ordered additional testing such as toxicology and other studies.”
Harvey said the tests would take four to six weeks to complete.
Jackson died suddenly Thursday of what his brother, Jermaine, said was cardiac arrest. He was unconscious and not breathing at the time of the emergency call to paramedics, and emergency room physicians and cardiologists worked to resuscitate him for more than an hour, Jermaine Jackson said Thursday.
Harvey said the coroner’s office knew Jackson had been taking prescription drugs, but wouldn’t comment on any specifics until the toxicology tests had been completed.
“Once tests are completed, we anticipate being able to close the case and issue a final cause of death,” Harvey said.
Jackson’s death ended a life in the spotlight that shone not only on his talent but also on the darker side that involved reports that he was addicted to prescription drugs, and two celebrity cases involving allegations of paedophilia.
Reports of his addictions circulated widely after his death.
Jackson died after being given “a heavy dose of morphine,” according to celebrity website tmz.com. Family members were alarmed at his physical state and had planned to put him in a rehab facility for his addiction to morphine and prescription drugs, according to the website, which first reported his death.
Brian Oxman, a former attorney for the Jacksons who was with the family in the hospital emergency room Thursday, said he had been concerned about the medications the pop star was taking.
“I talked to (the) family about it, I warned them. I said that Michael is overmedicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop,” Oxman told CNN.
The tests were “standard evaluations”, Harvey said. Autopsies are a process of ruling out possible causes, and “we want to make sure the systems in the body were functioning properly”.
Harvey said the autopsy took about three hours, which was not unusual. He also said that Jackson’s body would be ready for release Friday evening, as soon as the family selects a mortuary.
Related News
Joe Jackson says 'someone should pay' for son Michael Jackson's deathAugust 31st, 2009 Joe Jackson: 'Someone should pay' for son's deathNEW YORK — Michael Jackson's father says he'd never heard of the drug propofol until it was implicated in his son's death. "I'm not angry.
Coroner: Michael Jackson's toxicology reports could be completed this weekJuly 14th, 2009 Michael Jackson toxicology reports expected soonLOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles coroner's official says toxicology reports that may determine the cause of Michael Jackson's death could be completed this week. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Monday that some results from tests to determine what substances Jackson had in his body when he died are in.
LA police chief says detectives focusing on Jackson's prescription drug history, doctorsJuly 10th, 2009 LAPD: Michael Jackson's drug history to be probedLOS ANGELES — Detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are looking at his prescription drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors, the Los Angeles police chief said. Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, told ABC News in an interview that he believed "foul play" was involved in his son's death.
Father alleges foul play in Michael Jackson's deathJuly 10th, 2009 LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's father alleged Friday that "foul play" led to his son's death. Joe Jackson's comments to ABC News came amid growing indications that the criminal abuse of prescription drugs killed Jackson, and as celebrity website tmz.com reported that at least two of Jackson's doctors were not cooperating with the coroner's request for the pop icon's medical records.
Jackson's death certificate leaves cause unanswered; brain still being tested by coronersJuly 8th, 2009 Jackson's death certificate leaves cause unknown
LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's death certificate has been released without a listed cause of death and a coroner said investigators are still testing the singer's brain. Public health officials issued the death certificate on Tuesday, the same day public and private memorials were held in Los Angeles.
Michael Jackson's burial still a mysteryJuly 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - While Michael Jackson's memorial service was a star-studded public event, it is still not clear where his body was taken for burial after it left the Staples Center in Los Angeles. According to police in Los Angeles, the hearse carrying Jackson's golden casket would be taken to a cemetery.
Jackson's parents declare authority over son Michael's affairs; children are 'first priority'June 29th, 2009 Jackson's parents declare authority over affairsLOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's father declared Sunday in the strongest terms yet that he and his wife have sole authority over the late pop star's affairs. Joe Jackson said in a statement read on the red carpet before he headed into the BET Awards that he and his wife Katherine have the "personal and legal authority to act, and solely ..
Jackson's family wants second autopsyJune 28th, 2009 LONDON - Michael Jackson's relatives want a private autopsy of the star because they still have unanswered questions about his death, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson: Michael Jackson's family wants an independent autopsy to be performedJune 27th, 2009 Rev. Jesse Jackson says family wants 2nd autopsyLOS ANGELES — The Rev. Jesse Jackson says Michael Jackson's family wants an independent autopsy following the pop star's sudden death at age 50.
Coroner's official says determining cause of Michael Jackson's death requires further testsJune 27th, 2009 Coroner: More tests needed on Jackson's deathLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death will require further neuropathology and pulmonary tests that will take four to six weeks. Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body during the three-hour autopsy.
Michael Jackson's final autopsy report to take four to six weeksJune 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Late singer Michael Jackson's final autopsy reports are likely to take up to six weeks, according to the chief coroner investigating his death. The cops have seized vials of prescription drugs from the King Of Pop's rented house in Los Angeles as part of their ongoing investigation.
'Michael Jackson's healthy body surprises investigators'June 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Investigators conducting autopsy on Michael Jackson's body were surprised at how healthy the King of Pop was, a source has claimed. The source has told Fox News that Jackson's body has been kept in its own crypt at a Los Angeles morgue under lock.
'Michael Jackson's body under lock at LA morgue'June 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Michael Jackson's body has been kept in its own crypt at a Los Angeles morgue under lock, a source has revealed. Such actions have been exercised so that no pictures of the body are leaked, reports FOX News.
Coroner rules out foul play in Jackson's deathJune 27th, 2009 NEW YORK - Los Angeles coroners have found "no indication of foul play" in the death of Michael Jackson after conducting an initial autopsy. The King Of Pop died aged 50 on Thursday night.
Cops to question Michael Jackson's personal physicianJune 27th, 2009 NEW YORK - With initial autopsy results inconclusive, the investigation into Michael Jackson's sudden death turned its focus towards a mysterious doctor who was with the King of Pop when his heart stopped. Dr. Conrad Murray on Friday was poised to speak with detectives investigating whether the King of Pop was done in by a fatal dose of prescription painkillers, according to reports.
Loading ...