Michael Jackson’s Death a Homicide

Michael Jackson certainly wasn’t the first celebrity to die from a drug overdose. John Belushi, River Phoenix, Chris Farley and Heath Ledger are just a few of the famous faces whose deaths were attributed to illegal or prescription drugs. What WAS new about Jackson’s death, though, was that the drugs that killed him were allegedly administered by his personal physician.

Two months after his June ’09 death, the Associated Press is quoting a law enforcement source that says the Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled the King of Pop’s death a homicide. Early in the investigation, the coroner’s office made a preliminary determination that Jackson died of an overdose of a drug called Propofol, a powerful sedative he was using to combat insomnia.

Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, reportedly admitted in the 32-page warrant that he had been treating the pop star for insomnia. He gave Jackson Diprivan (a brand name of Propofol) through an IV. In the days before his death, Murray reportedly began weaning him off the powerful drug using other medications including Ativan and Versed (an anti-anxiety drug and a sedative, respectively). 

On June 25, the day Jackson died, he was reportedly given Valium, Lorazepam, Midazolam, Versed and, finally, Propofol, according to the search warrant affidavit. The final ruling in Jackson’s death shows the singer had lethal doses of Propofol in his system at the time of his death.

Despite that determination, "detectives ... believe that the miscellaneous prescriptions, from multiple doctors ... could have contributed to his death," according to CNN.com. "It cannot be determined whether the cause of death is due to the actions of a single night and/or a single doctor, or the grossly negligent treatment of several doctors over an extended period of time."

What it does prove is that drugs can be deadly, even when prescribed by a physician, if they are misused. If you or someone you know has developed an addiction to prescription medication, contact La Paloma at 877-345-1887. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have.