Coroner: Cause Of Jackson Death Deferred

More Tests Needed; Source: Jackson Suffered Heart Attack, Which Would Not Rule Out Drugs Playing Role

(CBS/ AP)  Updated at 11:17 p.m. EDT
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. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.

The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson's family.

Harvey says the police department has requested a security hold on the investigation which limits how much the coroner's office can say about the case. He says the death became a coroner's case because there was no doctor to sign the death certificate.

Harvey says the body will be released once the family selects a mortuary.

A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Jackson, who was with a cardiologist when he collapsed at his rented home in Los Angeles, appeared to have suffered a heart attack.

The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, said Jackson suffered a heart attack, which is a blocking of the arteries that can cause cardiac arrest. Jackson's brother Jermaine said Thursday that it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest, often but not always due to a heart attack.

A heart attack would not rule out drugs playing a role in his death, but could also indicate a long-term problem such as heart disease.

The lack of scientific evidence hasn't stopped the concerns of friends and speculation by tabloids that drugs were involved, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker. The London tabloid, The Sun, and celebrity Website TMZ claim Jackson was injected with the painkiller Demerol shortly before he died, and there have been reports that Jackson was addicted to the painkiller Oxycontin. Those who knew him best fear the worst.

"Michael has been using medications for quite a while," said former Jackson attorney Brian Oxman. "I have warned of this happening, the enablers around him have done this and i am so saddened."

In a call this morning to the Early Show's Harry Smith, Jackson friend Liza Minelli voiced the same fear.

"I'm sure when the autopsy comes, all hell's gonna break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now," she said.

Police now are seeking the doctor who was in the house when the pop icon collapsed, Dr. Conrad Robert Murray, reports Whitaker. Yesterday, police impounded the car he was driving at Jackson's mansion.

Today, in a gut-wrenching blog, Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of that other king, Elvis Presley, writes that Jackson feared he'd die like Elvis, who overdosed on drugs: "I'm afraid I'm going to end up like him, the way he did." Then she goes on, "Our relationship was not a sham. I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much."

Police earlier today seized the car of Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who practices in California, Nevada and Texas, who was with Jackson at the time of his death. Police said they believed the car may contain drugs or other evidence.

Heart attacks often lead to cardiac arrest, where the heart rhythm is disrupted and the heart stops pumping blood, said Dr. Douglas Zipes, an Indiana University heart specialist and past president of the American College of Cardiology.

When autopsies are done on cardiac arrest victims, as many as three-fourths show signs of heart disease, such as clogged arteries, he said.

Finding signs of a heart attack would not rule out drugs playing a role. For example, injections of the powerful painkiller Demerol can depress normal breathing or cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and trigger a heart rhythm problem, said Dr. Lance Becker, a University of Pennsylvania emergency medicine specialist and an American Heart Association spokesman.

If that occurred in someone who already had clogged arteries, it could make the situation much worse, he said.

In a 911 call released by fire officials, a caller reports Jackson was on a bed and not breathing or responding to CPR. The unidentified caller said Jackson was with his personal doctor at the time.

"I need an ambulance as soon as possible, sir," the caller said urgently but politely. "We have a gentleman here that needs help and he's not breathing yet. He's not breathing and we need to - we're trying to pump him, but he's not, he's not."

The pop star died later Thursday afternoon at UCLA Medical Center.

More Michael Jackson coverage:

Quincy Jones: "I Miss My Little Brother"
Motown's Gordy On Discovering Jackson
Gary, Indiana Mourns Hometown Star
The Man With The Moves
King Of Pop Lived In Luxury, Died In Debt
Coroner: Cause Of Jackson Death Deffered
911 Caller: Jackson "Not Breathing"
KHOU: Texas MD With Jackson Amid Collapse
A Collection Of CBS Videos Of Michael Jackson
The Death Of Michael Jackson, Full Coverage

[monkeylover321]

do any of you think that michael isnt a molester? Even if he was he is in the world record book for donating the most money he was a total humanitarian. :)

[1mochak]

I would like to say that we are in the last days here. It saddens me that the world that we live in, people can still be so hateful. Is it because the person you are referring to is an african american or is it just your own ignorance towards a human being. Regardless of what Michael has done good or bad in HIS own life did not and should not justify his existence. The man was a great humanitarian. He provided hope for terminally ill kids. He spent endless hours on perfecting his craft.. sure some behavior was odd but what do you expect for a person who never grew up in a normal family. Meaning.. do what kids do.. go to the park and mall etc.. No one can judge this man or know for a fact if he indeed committed any act towards kids(weird behavior towards or not). If the only thing you can see or say is negative about this man than may God have mercy upon your soul. We lost an angel. He had his faults just like any other human being. What's funny about this whole situation is the lack of accountability for those who was around him on a daily basis. Aid in a persons handicap if any. I have my own theory about what really happened but the reality is.. I chose to remember the great person that he was. Be it as it may with the other crap... It did not justify his existence. Let him rest in peace. Stop trying to reap rewards from his death. R.I. P MJ... a real Humanitarian Angel... :-)

[erasmus111]

by gravyboat3000 June 26, 2009 6:36 PM PDT
"His Dr", was in the home when 911 was phoned. However, he didn't go to the Hospital with Jackson. MJ was pronounced dead in the ER. And his Dr. wasn't there, for whatever reason.

So, the Coroner took over the case.


I still don't get it. Are there no doctors in the ER? Does it have to he "HIS" doctor? Here, any doctor can sign the death certificate.
If you are in the ER, the doctor that is there looking after you would be the one to sign it.

[mike18881]

Who cares? my wife and I grew up about 15 miles from his Neverland Ranch. He was so strange when he came into town, always covered up, and sneeking around. Weird. You talk about how he was aquited of molesting, he was tried about 40 miles from his ranch, I can't imagine why.

[gravyboat3000]

So, you and your wife are related?

Wow, the married cousins are judging now?

hehehe

[scabbard2]

Ebonyeyez84 worships this fool, maybe his status in the Jehova witness group, he is an ex, holds him up, life after death, boogie down.

[ebonyeyez84]

For one I am not going to even watse my time,because it is so obvious what group of people is talking about Michael, I dont worship Michael I worship God thats where my health and strength comes from I commend michael for his work and his big heart, but anyways off of Michael like i said this big US of A is all twisted especially when a dog or animals(michael vick goes to jail) life is more valuable then a black mans life(Sean Bell) So how twisted is Americans very twisted, I am quite sure no one knew Michael Jackson personally,but it is all so amazing everyone has something to say about him, which your opinions doesnt matter because "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." andthats the good book and if you dont think hell is real and judging people and talking about people keep living just make sure you are right so you dont lift your eyes in hell!! I am done commenting, because igonorant people will always be ignorant.

[scabbard2]

What a loser...yes a loser. Measured by record sales, and surgeries to make him something other than what he was, praised by people who stole from him and cottled for no good reason, yes he is a prince of America. I wonder if Gregory Boyington would have let Michael Jackson fly???

[erasmus111]

"He says the death became a coroner's case because there was no doctor to sign the death certificate."


No doctor? Well he supposedly quit breathing at the house, but they didn't say he was actually dead until later in the afternoon. So that means that he was at the hospital. So why the hell wasn't there a doctor to sign the death certificate? And even if he actually died at home, there was a doctor there. He could sign the death certificate.

[gravyboat3000]

"His Dr", was in the home when 911 was phoned. However, he didn't go to the Hospital with Jackson. MJ was pronounced dead in the ER. And his Dr. wasn't there, for whatever reason.

So, the Coroner took over the case.

[dkolich]

Too coincidental. Carradine, martial arts, jackson, music, russert, news, fawcett actress.......this smells of Rick Hufton...the chemical man and his medicine friends...this doctor will not be found. It's almost the emts and the ama are hand in hand with him. This is a religious event.

[gravyboat3000]

As reported by a representatvie of the L.A. Police Dept.

"We are in contact with the Dr., he was hired by the promotion company that was promoting Mr. Jackson's concert tour in London"

MSNBC

[wdh3007]

If a licensed doctor was present and that doctor administered the dosage himself he is at fault if something happens and the fact that he fled the scene makes him look very suspcious and unprofessional. I would imagine a custody hearing concerning the children would come and possibly a medical malpractice lawsuit later.

[dkolich]

This is a hit...like carradine, russert, jackson.

[sfbanak]

If he was in the midst of having a heart attack, Demerol is not a drug that would help--morphine is the pain treatment drug for myocardial infarction from clogged arteries. Why did this "cardiologist" wait to get him to a hospital????? Was Michael refusing to go? What else infuemced this decision? Too many unanswered questions. No real answers; all speculation and everyone believes themselves to be experts. America would be a better country if we limited the totally disrespectful, crude and rude comments. Too much hate in blogs.

[ebonyeyez84]

I think that some of the comments that people are making on here are ridiculous and ignorant. This very situation proves how ignorant american people are. Look at the other countries around the world they are not bashing Michael Jackson or dragging his name through the mud. This is a prime example that no matter how much good you do, you can do 1 thing bad or be accused of one thig bad people remember you for that one thing, despite the fact this man donated over 350 million dollars to charities when ever there was a sick or needy child he was there showing his support. This man was definently God sent there is no way that one man can reach and inspire the world without God being in it. He wasnt only known in the the U.S but around the world, only God could allow something so mariculous to happen. For all the people with negative comments remember every one is going to die someday, just worry about how you are going to be remembered, its life we all make mistakes no one is perfect, so "SWEEP AROUND YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR!!" Let the man rest the media has already done enough, and now ignorant people are basically spitting on the man's gave, LAWD when will the madness stop, us Americans are so simple minded

[Questionews]

I don't his conversations are with God right now. Think warmer!

[monkeylover321]

I agree but i wonder why he would make that mistake three times

[Questionews]

"Breaking News Coroner's office; Blood tests for cause of death could take six weeks"



I love this headline!
It should be:
"Breaking News!!!! We won't know anything for six weeks!

[gravyboat3000]

This is standard for toxicollogy reports.

[dahizzle]

It's official: They lost his nose in the ambulance. You'll see it on Ebay before long.....

"the doctor was not under investigation"

Maybe not now....but give it a couple weeks or so. This was a drug overdose from meds most likely injected by the doctor, even if accidently....guarenteed.

[TryTakingMyMoney]

The similarities of millions of people and the media idolizing and worshiping Michael and Obama is frightening. I was hoping there were enough of us left to divert the course we are on to socialism but like Michael's "Thriller" I now see that I am surrounded by millions of brainless zombies. Bye America...

[sfbanak]

Good riddance!

[TryTakingMyMoney]

The similarities of millions of people and the media idolizing and worshiping Michael and Obama is frightening. I was hoping there were enough of us left to divert the course we are on to socialism but like Michael's "Thriller" I now see that I am surrounded by millions of brainless zombies. Bye America...

[jjbaulikki]

wow, architekker, funny comment and yet not funny, hehe.

<a href="http://www.aikencolon.com" rel="dofollow">Infrared Camera</a>

[trapbreaking]

CBS: Now, as some news outlets are reporting that Michael Jackson was given an injection of Demerol shortly before his death, internet gossip site TMZ is reporting that the Los Angeles Police Department is looking for the doctor, who reportedly lived with Jackson at his home.

The site says the doctor gave Jackson an injection before he died and now cannot be found. The doctor's car was towed from Jackson's driveway last night, the site said."

We can add Michael's name to the list of celibs that couldn't handle the problems of fame, along with Allen Ladd, Janis Joplin, Morrison, Hendrix, and all the others, and ended it with substance abuse.

[FrankDenise]

These stories of famous people and their abuse of drugs is so common now that it should not shock anyone...The list goes on and on and its the people around these stars that should be held accountable...The doctors that supply these drugs are probably on the payroll as well...Some of these stars have their own private doctors that travel with them and administer drugs to them whenever they want...I mean this is an accident waiting to happen..And noone is going to stop someone like Jackson from taking drugs or tell him he needs help..He is too powerful for that....God Rest His Suol....

[pw08-2009]

"Four months ago, Jackson was apparently examined four months ago for insurance purposes for his upcoming tour four months ago."


When did that happen? You guys should read your own work once before posting it...