Cops Deny Dubbing Jackson Death a Homicide

TMZ.com Says Their Probe Is Homicide Investigation and Superstar's Cardiologist Is at Center of It

(CBS)  Los Angeles police are denying a Web site's report that they're treating Michael Jackson's death as a homicide.

Celebrity Web site TMZ.com, which cited "multiple law enforcement sources" in saying the investigation is indeed now is a homicide probe, also says the pop icon's cardiologist is the focus of that probe.

But Police Officer Sara Faden, speaking on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, tells CBS News the investigation hasn’t turned into a homicide probe at this point. She adds she doesn’t know where TMZ is getting that information.

The official autopsy results aren't due out until at least next week, "Early Show" national correspondent Hattie Kauffman pointed out Wednesday, but TMZ says, "The evidence points to the anesthesia Propofol as the primary cause of Jackson's death. As we first reported, vials of Propofol were found in Jackson's home after he died. Jackson's home after he died."

"Law enforcement sources say there is already 'plenty of powerful evidence' linking Dr. Murray as the person who administered the drug to Jackson," TMZ continued, including "various items found in Jackson's house, including the Propofol, an IV stand and oxygen tank."

TMZ adds that "police have already talked to the L.A. district attorney's office about possible homicide charges."

Neither the LAPD nor Dr. Murray has commented on the TMZ report.

Both Latoya Jackson, Michael's sister, and his father, Joe Jackson, have said they suspect Jackson was a victim of foul play.

Murray isn't the only doctor under scrutiny, Kauffman notes. A coroner's official served a subpoena on the office of Dr. Arnold Klein, a Beverly Hills dermatologist who treated Jackson for years and was a close friend.

Complete coverage of Jackson's life and death

"I mean," TMZ's Harvey Levin told CBS News, he's cooperating now. ... The coroner was frustrated, because he had asked Arnie Klein to ante up Michael Jackson's medical records, and then said, 'Where are they'? And never got a return call, and that's why the assistant coroner went out (to Klein's office)."

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration the manufacturer of Propofol for a specific batch of the medication, as part of the DEA's probe, Kauffman notes.

Another Jackson sibling, Tito Jackson, has told a British newspaper the family tried to stage an intervention on Michael's drug use, but was turned away by Jackson's handlers.

Also, in the possible custody battle over Jackson's three kids, lawyers for Debbie Rowe, who gave brith to two of them, are demanding the New York Post retract its report that she's agreed to give up parental rights in exchange for $4 million. But, Kauffman says, attorneys for Rowe and Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, are still talking privately, in advance of Monday's scheduled custody hearing.

[marcalif]

Where were all the "loving" Jackson's concern for his 3 children while Michael was all doped up &/or hooked up on to an iv for up to 72 hours?
What kind of a father could Michael have been drugged out?
An addicts first priority is to get their drugs.
Emotional abuse is one of the most damaging forms of child abuse.

[EyeCeeUs]

Sue his Doctor for Mal-practice

[gwinginit]

If he did do it, He deserve a medal for making the world a safer place for young boys.

[mzbailey1]

*******

[mdwinell]

you guys are all naive. This MD was extremely greedy. It was all about $$$!!! MJ had an addiction and the MD took advantage of it. What ever happened to the medical OATH?? It sounds like he should go in hiding. Debbie Rowe is also extremely greedy. I wish someone would hook her up to an IV unattended with an Propaphol

[carlyt1]

Medications much too easy to get by celebs and others. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

[kimasabe90035]

Question: just wondering.... who is proofreading copy @ CBS, before its posted on this site?

One of the errors in this report ^^^^^ birth is misspelled:

"Also, in the possible custody battle over Jackson's three kids, lawyers for Debbie Rowe, who gave brith to two of them, are demanding the New York Post retract its report that she's agreed to give up parental rights in exchange for $4 million. But, Kauffman says, attorneys for Rowe and Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, are still talking privately, in advance of Monday's scheduled custody hearing."

[dragyn30]

MJ basically killed himself and the family knows it, now they are all crawling out of the woodwork to get their fair share of either the money or the limelight! I doubt they ever tried an intervention! I said this before if Britney Spears family could step in, so could have the Jacksons! That is complete BS that they tried *once* and were turned away by the handlers! Handlers?? I realize he lived like a circus act, but this wasn't a trained elephant it was a human being, they should have kept trying the drug addition problem has been going on for years!

This is what MJ wasted his money on, he paid for the drugs and he paid for the Doctors who gave them to him. MJ got what he paid for and it finally killed him.

Now the parasites are out in force to suck what they can from the bones!

[waismann-2009]

When we hire a doctor, we assume he is taking care of our health , safety and well being regardless of our personal wants or ability to pay..We work with patients that are drug dependent due to physical or mental pain. We use Propofol for a very short time in an ICU unit monitored by Board Certified Anesthesiologists in a safe and well monitored facility. I don't understand how and the purpose of home use of this drug, specially with a patient that combines other narcotics....I don't understand CPR done in a bed....I don't understand the lack of knowledge of the well know drug dependency of MJ...It is all very disturbing.....I hope all this suffering does not go in vain. I hope other doctors will be more responsible with their prescription pads, pharmacies will be more aware of whom they are delivering and how much and patients will educate themselves more about the drugs they take and their consequences. It is a joint responsibility.

Clare W. Kavin

[mainermike]

This is AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.

I never knew a child molester can be so wildly popular.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mainer Mike Brown.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money]

Don't inflate your popularity, Mike.

[dewmww]

NOT VERY CLEVER. IN FACT VERY STUPID!

[Guru09]

Do you have irrefutable evidence that Michael Jackson molested a child?

[falcone300]

How much has the media made on MJ,and still are.Keep it rolling folks,MJ"s kids have to eat

[Stardice]

I believe Latoya its homicide Murder, reasons
#1 There where security camera's that were stolen that had Michael's murder recorded who stole them?
#2 Dr. Conrad Murray went into hiding for days before being interviewed.
#3 Needle marks on his neck where fresh meaning someone stabbed deadly drug on him that night.
#4 Michael owed 500 million dollars in debt some to dangerous powerful Islam organizations the only way
to pay them IS MURDER.

[Guru09]

You should write a book.

[marcalif]

ROFLMAO!!

[Sky017]

Huh? Here is a story on CBS with no author listed. Most of what they do in this article is quote TMZ and summarize things from there. I was just waiting... This morning CBS echoed TMZ, that the cops were now treating the case as a homicide. 3-4 hours later CBS rescinds/changes the story and now the official word of the LAPD spokesperson is that they are not currently treating it as a homicide, and they are continuing investigations and awaiting the official toxicology/coroner's report in about a week to a week and a half.

Now, my question is this. Why didn't a CBS reporter corroborate TMZ's story by simply calling up the police spokesperson or police chief? MSNBC just ran slightly modified versions of the TMZ report this morning. Surprisingly... CNN were patient/tempered themselves and instead just had a story about Joe & Kathleen Jackson's input to Michael's life. Certainly, CBS had this TMZ story more visible/prominent on their site of these 3 networks.

I came to CBSnews because of the quality and integrity and found CNN and MSNBC more salicious (and the reader comments there more raucous). So how can it be that CNN can RESTRAIN themselves from echoing the TMZ story prominently this morning, but CBSNews descended to that level??

H-e-l-l-o The TMZ website is a few mouseclicks away. If we want to get the LATEST celebrity news, we'll go to TMZ (that's their schtick). We come to CBSNews for QUALITY news. You tout "Experience. CBSNews", please stand behind your motto. Because it's MJ, you shouldn't change your core principles.

Please don't let QUICK replace QUALITY. Thanks.

[tomanyt]

TMZ = The National Inquirer.

[pw08-2009]

I disagree to an extent and originally thought the same thing. However, TMZ is the only organization that has come up with legitimate information, and then all the other "news" organizations leeched from them.

[pw08-2009]

WOW,

Wouldn't it be great if the media took their jobs more seriously and delivered relavant informatioin instead of trying to manufacture a dramatic daily-running soap opera?

[exaf74]

Both Latoya Jackson, Michael's sister, and his father, Joe Jackson, have said they suspect Jackson was a victim of foul play.

Foul play.......thats funny. Just another "hollywood" 'brotha dead from drugs HE WANTED. Thats NOT foul play, thats just the way it is.

[pw08-2009]

That's right....foul play means that Michael couldn't have ever taken responsibility for his own demise...now Joe and family are pe*ing all over themselves, thinking of new ways to make some cash...they're off to a great start.

[mzbailey1]

either educate yourself, or refrain from commenting---EVER.

[La_Supergirl]

We all know MJ had an addiction. The problem is the doctors who continue to give him the medications time and time again. I guess at the end of the day screw the patient lets just pumping them up with whatever they want as long as the doctors get paid. As far as Debbie Rowe she is just pathetic and a sorry excuse for a mother and that 12 yrs ago gave up her kids for 4 mil. dollars, Mantion, and 900k to bind by their contract and now she wants more for her to stay away from the kids. Where in this picture makes people think that this is what a mother should be. If she wanted those kids really bad she would off faught MJ while he was alive and come to some type of agreement. Can't say I agree with K.Jackson taking the kids than again everyone is up for making a buck or two. It's sad watching all this people who claimed to care for MJ but while he was alive none care but all suddently everyone is concern. Sad very sad.

[SeriouslyPeople]

Michael Jackson is dead. Who cares? I can't believe that this is all that news stations are covering. It is ridiculous.

[avigil2]

Apparently, everybody, including all media outlets.

[dewmww]

Why are you on here commenting on it then?

[mzbailey1]

seriously though. . .i can't believe that someone who doesn't care about MJ is reading and responding to articles. stop reading articles and watching the shows---and then u won't have to be subjecting to all of this. . .seriously.

[garrisongetar]

Dr. Murray apparently gave up two private practices to be Michael Jackson's personal physician. It's a no brainer that he brought the Propofol to Jackson's home and administered it to him. That's why Murray disappeared for awhile immediately after Jackson's death and scurried off to see his lawyer. Propofol is a drug used in operating rooms and ICU's and must be administered by an anesthesiologist who then closely monitors the patient. Dr. Murray is not an anesthesiologist and Jackson's home is not an operating room or ICU. It's only a matter of time before charges are laid against Dr. Murray.

[AttentionDeficit]

Whether he was murdered or not, death was a good career move for Michael

[falcone300]

The press killed MJ.They killed him for years and all he did to get wiped out is make music.Sorry people the press.