Coroner Delays Jackson Autopsy Results

Release Pushed Back to Next Week

(CBS/ AP)  The Los Angeles County coroner's office says release of Michael Jackson's autopsy results will be delayed. Coroner's officials had said they were going to release the results this week but Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Wednesday the announcement will probably not come until next week.

Winter did not discuss reasons for the delay, saying only that his office needed to "finish up a bunch of stuff."

A law enforcement official has said investigators are working under the theory that the powerful anesthetic propofol caused Jackson's heart to stop. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

In recent days, authorities have searched the Las Vegas home and office of Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s doctor. Murray was with Jackson shortly before he died on June 25. Murray’s attorney announced today that the search warrant said that Jackson obtained prescription drugs by using 19 different aliases.

Harvey Levin, executive producer of the celebrity Web site TMZ.com, told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday that TMZ has records showing Jackson used aliases as far back as 1993. "He used employees of the Neverland Ranch, he used fictitious people," Levin said. "He used the name Josephine Baker, even.”

"But this has been going on, not just with Dr. Murray, but literally dozens of other doctors. ... The LAPD and the coroner's office have quietly been going to other doctors. Subpoenas have been served. This is going to open up a massive investigation into what authorities believe could be gross fraudulent prescribing practices. There are a lot of people who are very nervous in Beverly Hills and west L.A. right now."

[nextgenman09]

Translation: The LA Coroner is looking for his 15 minutes.....sheesh.

[MrsK2926]

I have a thought...what if Michael Jackson isn't really dead, but just wanted to escape? Coroners can be bought off like anyone else. It is true that people can have plastic surgery done to make their faces appear with "permanent make up." Maybe Michael got sick of being chalk white, having a nose that was falling off, and not being able to dance like he used to. Funny if he appeared black as he was when he started, with all his debtors wondering how to collect!

[Questionews]

The reason people are drawn to MJ stories is the same reason that people flocked to the traveling freak shows. It's a chance to confirm that you are fairly normal when making comparisons to folks like the werewolf boy, the one ton woman, the man with 3 arms or a human cyclops (Or MJ). A chance to say to yourself & those around you "Eww gross, what a freak! I'm glad that's not me!!" Freaks are something that humans have yet to deal with in an enlighten way just yet. Maybe give it a couple more centuries. In the mean time, folk are still going to flock to see the strange & unusual.

[mlh1957]

One thing puzzles me. They originally said that Michael was taken to the hospital because there was no doctor present to sign the death certificate. But all this week all you read about is Michael's doctor giving the orders when the paramedics showed up at Michael's house. What's up with that?

[stychokiller]

Just because you're a Doctor does not mean that you're authorized to be a Coroner. Paramedics will always defer to a Doctor's judgment if one is present (and making sensible statements, that is).

[didserve]

ENOUGH! how is this news?

[trapbreaking]

Who cares? A doper with money can always get his dope, and Michael was a doper. They can get it from groopies associates, doctors, or leave the country if necessary. Put the blame where it belongs - MJ.