Whitney Houston's Death: 9 Surprising
Details in Coroner's Report
April 5, 2012
By KEVIN DOLAK and SHEILA MARIKAR
Homepage Editor
Whitney Houston: Cause
of Death Revealed
The final details of
pop icon Whitney Houston's Feb. 11 death provide a clearer picture of the scene
where the star was found face down in a water-filled bathtub with drug
paraphernalia near by, and confirms the coroner's initial report that she died
of accidental drowning.
The Los Angeles County
coroner's 42-page report also reveals some unknown and often surprising details
about the singer at the time of her death, along with what was found in her
hotel room at the Beverly Hilton, and gives glimpses of the addictions that
plagued one of the greatest singer's of her time.
The Spoon
A "small spoon
with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled-up piece of white
paper" were found in the bathroom where Houston died, according to the
coroner's report. Such items are used to snort cocaine.
"Some people use
a spoon for cocaine administration," a law enforcement official involved
in Houston's case said. "These days it's likely around for meth, which was
not found at the scene, according to the investigator, so likely used as
inhalation tool."
Drug Use
Previous reports said
traces of cocaine and prescription medications were in her system. Both the
initial and final reports stated that blood tests indicate that she smoked
marijuana within two weeks before her death. Marijuana is legal in California
if used for medicinal purposes.
Forensic toxicologist
Bruce Goldberger said the details about her blood from the toxicology report
indicate that she was "acutely intoxicated from cocaine" at the time
of her death and was a "repeated cocaine user."
A "plethora of
prescription medication bottles" were found in the room, according to the
final report. The final report lists a total of 12 different medications,
including anti-anxiety medication Xanax, and muscle relaxer Flexeril,
prescribed from five different doctors.
Goldberger described
the level of prescription drugs in her system as "mild" and said
Xanax did not contribute to her death.
An open bottle of
champagne also sat on the mini-bar and an open can of beer was on a table.
There was also a bottle of beer on a nightstand and several loose tablets.
Houston's family has
expressed surprise that she was using drugs again. In an interview with Oprah
Winfrey, sister-in-law Pat Houston attributed
Whitney's downfall to a lifestyle change where she saw Whitney "chasing a
dream ... looking for comfort, love ... and it was younger."
She said that Whitney
was chasing someone "that would ultimately hurt her."
While admitting she
was concerned about the singer's behavior at a party two nights before her
death, Pat Houston told Winfrey that she didn't think the star was abusing
drugs in her final days.
But after the initial
toxicology report was released, Houston wrote in a statement to The Associated
Press: "We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we
are glad to now have closure."
The Missing Items
The coroner reported
that when found in her room at the Beverly Hilton, Houston's purse contained
her wallet, but the "decedent's California driver's license had been
removed from the wallet, which was inside the purse, prior to my arrival."
"Also prior to my
arrival, the majority of the decedent's prescription medication bottles had
been removed from a brown bag that was on top of the table in the southeast
corner of the living room, and then placed on top of that same table," the
report reads.
It has been determined
that no foul play was involved in the singer's death.
Breast Implants
It is unclear how many
plastic surgeries Houston underwent throughout her life, but it now seems clear
that she did at some point undergo breast-augmentation surgery. The coroner's
report described and "small scars" on her breasts "associated
with breast implants."
"The outlines of
bilateral breast prosthesis are visible," the report added.
Defibrillator
According to the
coroner's report, "there was a defibrillator patch on the upper right side
of her chest and there was another defibrillator patch on the upper right side
of her torso."
This does not likely
indicate therapeutic treatment for Houston's heart, but shows that part of the
life-saving efforts administered by paramedics was likely the use of a
defibrillator to establish normal sinus rhythm to Houston's heart.
The Wig
Another piece of new
information from Wednesday's report is that Houston wore a brown wig, which was
tightly affixed to her head at the time of her death.
Dentures
Houston also wore
dentures, the coroner's report indicated. This is relatively common among
long-term drug abusers. Habitual use of drugs such as crack cocaine, which
contains acidic chemicals, will lead to the wearing down of the tooth's pulpy
tissue over time. Tooth decay can also be the result of vomiting and tooth
grinding, which is common among drug and alcohol abusers.
Multiple Cigarette
Butts
The coroner said that
mild emphysema was detected in Houston. Houston's voice was the gift she left
for her fans, but sadly for her she was losing her beautiful voice at the time
of her death. From the final report, it now seems clear that not only did she
struggle with illegal drugs and alcohol, but she was unable to stop smoking.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/houston-insider-reveals-whitneys-anguished-fight-win-back/story?id=15689692
Water
Temperature-Minor Abrasions on Face
Houston was discovered
by her assistant the afternoon of Feb. 11 face down in a water-filled bathtub
with a "bloody purge coming from her nose" and, according to the
report, "there were two superficial abrasions to the left side of her forehead,
and there was a superficial abrasion to the left side of the bridge of her
nose."
Forensic pathologist
Cyril Wecht said he does not fully concur with the final anatomical diagnoses
on Houston, noting that the water in her tub at the Beverly Hilton was extremely
hot at 93.5 degrees. He believes this indicates that Houston was not sitting in
her tub, and somehow accidentally drowned.
"I think that she
fell into this very hot water, that accounts for a little bruise that was seen
in the left forehead area, some other pressure markings on the face, including
the slight laceration of the lip, and the fact that she is lying face
down," Wecht told ABC News. "I think that this lady fell into the
water, she was unconscious, dead or dying when she fell into the tub.
"I do not believe
that the death was due to drowning," he added, "although I cannot
rule out that she could've been in the agonal moments and with her head
submerged in water that certainly could have contributed to her death."
No comments:
Post a Comment