Autopsy In 'Bernie's' Case Show Drug Use Killed Man

DENVER (AP) - The Denver Coroner's office says a man whose friends are accused of driving him around while he was dead and running up a high bar tab on his account had died of mixed drug intoxication.

Officials said Friday the manner of death of 43-year-old Jeffrey Jarrett was accidental. Prosecutors filed criminal charges, including one of abusing a corpse, against 43-year-old Robert Young and 25-year-old Mark Rubinson.

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Young testified Thursday that he thought Jarrett was drunk, not deceased.

Authorities allege that Young went to Jarrett's home and found him unresponsive but that instead of calling police Young and Rubinson put him in a car and went drinking. Police say the two men used Jarrett's card to pay for the drinks on Aug. 27.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)