Report: Acute intoxication killed Thomas Kinkade
(CBS News) "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade died of accidental acute intoxication from alcohol and an anti-anxiety medication, according to an autopsy report made public on Monday by local NBC Bay Area TV.
Pictures: Thomas Kinkade, "Painter of Light"
Dr. Joseph O'Hara, the county's lead medical examiner, said in the report dated Wednesday that the cause of Kinkade's death was "acute ethanol and Diazepam intoxication" and the manner of death was an "accident," according to the report.
Diazepam is the active ingredient in Valium. The report also said "hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease" were contributing factors.
Kinkade died earlier this month at his home in Santa Clara County. He was 54.
His brother, Patrick, has said Kinkade battled alcoholism and relapsed before his death. He also said decades of attacks on his work and a split with his wife two years ago had taken a toll on the self-described "Painter of Light."
