January 23, 2008
Heath Ledger Autopsy Inconclusive, According to M.E.
Photographs outside Broome Street
The NYC Medical Examiner's office says Heath Ledger's autopsy is inconclusive, citing the need to more tests. Spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said, "The autopsy is inconclusive and we have to do further testing which includes toxicology and tissue testing. We expect to have results in about 10 days to two weeks."
Initial reports suggested pills were found scattered around the actor's body, prompting speculation that Ledger could have committed suicide. Ledger's father issued a statement saying that it was an accident and TMZ reported this morning that the pills were not scattered but actually in containers in places like the medicine cabinet (sleeping pills and another anti-anxiety drug were found in the bedroom), adding that the NYPD now believes it was an accidental overdose. The NYPD says that no suicide note was found and that the apartment was very neat when they entered. Additionally, the housekeeper (who found Ledger's body with a masseuse scheduled to see the actor) said she had heard Ledger snoring earlier.
On the Today Show, Matt Lauer made a point of saying that just because there were sleeping pills found doesn't mean Ledger killed himself, it just meant he had trouble sleeping (Lauer even said if one were to look at his own apartment, you'd find sleeping pills).
However, CBS 2 now reports traces of narcotics were found in the apartment:
Sources close to the investigation tell CBS 2's Investigative Reporter Scott Weinberger that along with the prescription drugs that were found in the apartment, police also recovered a $20 bill with narcotic residue on it.Ledger had been known to have some substance abuse problems and was reportedly depressed after breaking up with ex-fiancee Michelle Williams, with whom he had a daughter Matilda . A makeshift memorial has been set up outside the Broome Street apartment building where Ledger was living. Another has been left outside the Brooklyn townhouse he and Williams used to share.
Sources add they also found several drug packets containing an unknown substance. CBS 2 has learned these items were all listed on the official police report from the scene.To be clear, it's still unknown whether these items belonged to Ledger or whether he even actually ingested them.
This entry has a slideshow. To view the slideshow your browser must have the Flash Player. (If you are using a newsreader that doesn't support Flash click here to launch the slideshow.)
Williams has left Sweden with their daughter, Matilda, (Williams had been filming there) for New York; Williams' mother and friend Busy Phillips have also arrived in NYC to be with Williams. Williams' father mourned the passing of Ledger, noting, "The saddest thing is his daughter whom he just loved dearly." A building super agreed, saying, ""When I did see him he was with his daughter. You could tell he loved the little girl very much."
The ME's office also said that Ledger's body was ready to be released to the family for burial.
|
more stories on heath ledger please
is that slideshow a custom flash app, or are you guys using something open source?
There's something deranged about a person who leaves flowers for a celebrity they never met.
Enough already.
He also apparently had pneumonia. If you have pneumonia and take sleeping pills, you can easily die accidently.
oops, sounds like they found coke on the scene. why did someone leave Fritos (or is that oriental snack mix)?
oops, sounds like they found coke on the scene. why did someone leave Fritos (or is that oriental snack mix)?
No, sounds like heroin actually. Blow doesn't usually come in glassines.
Drug dependency by celebrities continues to be an epidemic. Like athletes, celebrities are surrounded by adoring masses, fawning handlers and agents and publicists who fail to see their clients' weaknesses. Like adolescents, they feel indestructible.
Ledger's death was not "accidental." He mixed sleeping pills with Xanax, Valium and probably cocaine or heroin. He was pointing a loaded gun at himself but was too sick to realize that pulling the trigger would have a predictable effect. There are at least two other celebs who seem to be walking the same path as Mr. Ledger. One wonders how Amy Winehouse's family, agents, publicists and physicians can not be convinced, at this point, that she will meet anything like the same end as Heath Ledger.
Like Ledger, Winehouse has seemingly endless talent.
And like Ledger, there is an almost childlike naivite about her. I suspect, unless someone intervenes, we'll be reading the same story about her pretty soon. Despite their youth, throw enough drugs and alcohol at them and you'll eventually stop breathing or your heart will eventually stop beating. And, notice I'm not even saying anything about Ms. Lohan: perhaps a bit less talented than Ledger and Winehouse, but destined for the same end, I fear.
still very sad.
on an unrelated note, the slideshow looks like slideshowpro.
still very sad.
on an unrelated note, the slideshow looks like slideshowpro.
ugh, stupid server errors.
I wonder when a celebrity dies does everyone at the GOTHAMIST office go "YES! MONEY IN THE BANK BABY!" and do a dance of joy? It probably was the same when 9/11 happened. Everyone in the world was like "NO!" and everyone in the News Biz and Halliburton and Flag Factories were like "Hell Yeah! I'm bying me a ferrari with my patriotic flag money! High Five!"
this behavior is disgusting to me.
#13, I actually rather write about things like Wesley Autrey jumping into the subway tracks to save someone. But this is a big story and there's a lot interest in it.
You all got it wrong!
First Brad Renfro ... and then Mr Brokeman Mountain. This is an obvious case of gay sympathetic suicide.
I didn't realize that Heath Ledger had so many fans. But I guess an untimely death really wins people over.
Really though, I don't see how this is so "sad." Unfortunate? Yes. Sad? Not really. I guess I mean to say, no more sad than the other untimely deaths & overdoes that probably occur every single day in this city alone.
I'm not so sure it's the drugs killing celebrities, as much as it is the constant media hounding relating celebrity drug use. It's all the Dr. Phils, Perez Hilton's etc., telling people they 'need help' that creates this culture of secrecy about getting wasted, which isn't healthy. Sure, a certain amount of people who use drugs will go overboard, and a percentage of those people will end up dead. However, this fails to account for all the people who use drugs, and don't die young. Seriously? That Amy Winehouse video is amateur hour as far as drug binges go. Be honest NYC, most of us have gone way, way more over the edge than that, especially when we were 20-21. The difference being that we didn't have cameras, pap's and sellout friends filming us and following us around, reinforcing the idea that 'YOU HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM'. Same thing with Ledger. If people weren't so weird about using drugs, he would have known you never mix benzo's and dope. Until we get off this nonsensical 20C. model of 'addiction is a disease', and start educating, informing people and accepting drug use as part of life, not much will change. Addiction isn't a disease. Drugs and drinking are a normal part of the human condition, and they always have been. OD's are mistakes, due to impaired judgment, like drunk driving.
a big story? a lot of interest in it? um, yeah, because the media says it's a big story and then proceeds to generate interest.
heath ledger passes away yesterday (rip), the same day a report is published that 5.4 million people have perished in the Congo in the last ten years as a result of war, disease, malnutrition, etc. big story? a lot of interest? uh, no, of course not. the media was focusing on heath ledger.
Here are some facts about drug residue on currency bills, in both the US and UK. Bottom line, at least one of the bills in YOUR wallet will test positive for drug residue.
ngm.typepad. com/all_terrain/2007/09/money-launderin. html
if you wanna read about it just skip it!
Censure is not a solution.
Big story? Only to fanboys or fangirls who have screwed up priorities. It's not a big story. It's a death which happens to people in New York every day. This is only a big story to people who need constant diversion from their lives.
the droog, you could just read BBC and the Guardian and give up on American news altogether instead of complaining about it. They have been reporting regularly on more important global events (not to say that a celebrity dying is a non-story, but in perspective you get my point). You complaining isn't going to change the US' media at large's interests.
Peace to Mr. Ledger and his family.
Every year, 10 million children die before their fifth birthday, nearly all of them from preventable causes.
Each year, more than 500,000 mothers die from complications during child birth.
Do we care?
But one cute actor dies and WOAH NELLY!
Every year, 10 million children die before their fifth birthday, nearly all of them from preventable causes.
Each year, more than 500,000 mothers die from complications during child birth.
Do we care?
But one cute actor dies and WOAH NELLY!
Constant diversion? Like commenting on a blog about New York several times a day?
Sorry, e.d., but I don't think it's fair to say that "most of us" in NYC have gone farther than smoking crack, even at the wildly experimental age of 20-21. If you're hanging with a crowd of crack smokers, that's too bad for you, but I can't subscribe to the miserable vision of a city filled solely with crack addicts. It's not the norm, at least, not amongst functioning individuals with careers and goals, even at 20 years old. I feel really sorry for you, if that's truly your perspective. Invest in new friends and hobbies, and you might be more optimistic.
RIP, Heath. Any death is sad.
The "god hates fags" people are planning to picket his funeral. First soldiers killed in Iraq and now Heath Ledger? No one is safe from this particularly warped strand of homophobia.
People need to get a fucking life already.
rocknrope commenting about things that happen in my city isn't a diversion. I'm the real deal unlike most transplants who are on here.
lachincha i don't think those dopes have enough money to travel overseas.
I would say that our Police Commish said this evening:"All the prescription drugs were in the bottles and accounted for" the rolled up $bill was also free of any drug (NYPD). So He may have had
a medical condition.
I think his funeral is at Frank Campbell funeral
home on Madison Avenue & 83rd(?) street.
I love reading Gothamist, but I can't believe the disconnect between the fine tone of the stories and the crummy, adolescent tone of the comments. If you hate what Gothamist writes about, sign off!
RIP Heath Ledger, gifted and respected actor.
someone should update the "memorial" pics,
on the late news it's quite large with the flag of Australia taped to the wall. Not JFK jr. mountainous but who knows?