Jackson Autopsy Reveals “No Foul Play,” Cause of Death Unknown
The Los Angeles Coroners Office held a press conference today to announce that Michael Jackson‘s autopsy revealed no indications of foul play of evidence of physical trauma. However the cause of death cannot be determined until a toxicology report and other tests are completed in four to six weeks, a spokesperson for the Coroners Office said. He also confirmed that Jackson had been taking unspecified prescription medications. The autopsy lasted an estimated three hours, the norm for cases like these, the spokesperson said. Jackson’s body will be released to his family at approximately 6 p.m. PT tonight.
(Check out Rolling Stone’s essential Michael Jackson coverage: photos, interviews and more.)
As Rolling Stone reported earlier, the Los Angeles Police Department is still searching for Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with the singer when he fell unconscious, according to the person who made the 911 phone call requesting an ambulance to Jackson’s home. Murray’s car was seen being towed away from Jackson’s Los Angeles residence by the LAPD, who believed that the automobile might contain “medications pertinent to the investigation.” An LAPD detective added the police wanted to interview Murray regarding Jackson’s death.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Murray, a cardiologist from Texas, was hired by AEG Live, the concert promoter that undertook the production of Jackson’s planned This Is It! run of concerts at London’s O2 Arena. Jackson’s adviser Dr. Tohme Tohme told the Times Murray was brought to Los Angeles by AEG Live less than two weeks ago and that the physician had planned to accompany Jackson and the production to London next week. Jackson first met Murray when the doctor treated the singer for a cold last year in Las Vegas.
“I don’t know the exact arrangements, but AEG paid [Murray] and he was going to go with [Jackson on tour],” Tohme said. The LAT adds that Murray has a history of money problems stemming from three judgments filed against his company Global Cardiovascular Associates, totaling $435,000.
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