Michael Jackson case: Detectives were looking for powerful drug at doctor's home, office

Los Angeles police detectives and federal drug agents were looking for a powerful anesthetic that may have played a role in Michael Jackson’s death when they executed search warrants on Dr. Conrad Murray's Las Vegas home, office and storage unit, according to copies of the warrants released Thursday.

The investigators who spent more than eight hours combing through Murray’s properties were targeting an array of documents related to the treatment of Jackson, including “records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of propofol,” read the warrant signed by a Nevada District Court judge.

Propofol is a general anesthetic that renders surgical patients unconscious in seconds. It is intended for use in surgical suites and operating rooms. Police recovered large quantities of it from Jackson’s home and the Drug Enforcement Administration has been in contract with the drug manufacturer in an attempt to track a specific lot number of the medicine, which is also known by its brand name, Diprivan.

It is unclear from inventories of the searches if authorities recovered any documents related to the anesthetic. An inventory from Murray’s medical office submitted to the court said detectives seized copies of five computer hard drives, a portable “thumb” drive, binders containing information about Murray’s medical supplies and equipment and a CD labeled with a pseudonym Jackson used, Omar Arnold.

A source with knowledge of the search said the disc contained records of an electrocardiogram of Jackson’s heart. The search warrant cleared investigators to seize information in the names of 19 different aliases Jackson may have used in health matters.

At Murray’s home, searchers took an iPhone, copies of information from another mobile phone and a BlackBerry, and a copy of a personal computer hard drive, according to an inventory. No items were taken from the storage unit, investigators wrote. The warrants also indicated investigators are considering a wider range of charges against Murray than the manslaughter count they referred to in documents filed last week in a search of the doctor’s Houston properties.

A detective wrote that he and colleagues were looking for evidence “demonstrating the crimes” that included excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, unprofessional conduct and manslaughter. Those charges include violations of the penal code and the state business and professions code. Murray was performing CPR on Jackson when paramedics arrived at his Holmby Hills chateau June 25. He has said through his lawyer that he didn’t administer anything to the performer that “should have” caused his death and is eagerly awaiting toxicology results to be released next week.

-- Harriet Ryan

Comments

[Brad]

How much money and man hours is LAPD putting into this investigation?

To find what?

A doctor that illegally prescribed drugs to a celebrity? Is anyone shocked anymore to hear of this?

How will the public benefit from this investigation?

It is just more of the same, police spending valuable time and resources on celebrity cases while real crime goes unchallenged. Whichever officer finds the proof gets to write a book and then turn it into a movie because a celebrity was involved.

Been there, done that, sick of it.

[A Fairley]

" He has said through his lawyer that he didn’t administer anything to the performer that “should have” caused his death " Lawyer weasel words. Of course propofol "should not have caused" Jackson's death if used properly and with proper monitoring.... On the other hand, administering the stuff every night....

[lisa]

Murray is going down.

[Mir]

I thing LAPD's using the situation for PR, very sleezy and wrong. However the deatch of MJ is very peculiar.

[Drug Addiction]

Thank you .

[janice byrne]

Why did the police wait nearly 5 weeks before raiding the quacks houses/offices/storage units? Obviously all files/records etc have been "removed" by him ages ago. Michael was definitely killed by Murray's negligence and incompetence and thorough unprofessionalism. If Michael was discovered at 9-ish, why wasn't 911 called until 12.21? Murray is at fault and has blood on his hands. Whatever happens now, the quack is finished. I've no sympathy for him and his kind.

[Jack]

get a clue folks, Dr. Murray is INNOCENT !

http://surftofind.com/murray

[mary]

I hope Dr. Murray rots in prison but what about the doctors that came before him and got MJ addicted? Why isn't anything happening to them. Murray shouldn't take all the fault. MJ travelled with a doctor during his Dangerous Tour and he gave him propofol after his concerts. Does anyone know that doctor's name. The police waited too long to raid Murray's house. He's not dumb; he got rid of much of the evidence. I have a feeling that no one's going to really pay for MJ's murder.

[kelsey]

i think the doctoe should be in jail beause he didnt suppose to precribe medicen to begin with in the state of california so.....in that case he should be in jail and not only that he precribed him the strongest medicean there is thats only suppose to be givin at the hospitals so i really think the doctor killed micheal bc he was the last one with him in the house and he left when he gave him the medicean so i think the doctor did it...
thanks for you time..

[More MJ]

It seems like we just don't get enough Michael Jackson "news" in the L A times. Here's some ideas on articles for you to publish this weekend:

"Michael Jackson's doctor says 'I am innocent' "
"Michael Jackson's autopsy results still postponed"
"Jackson's mother is glad she received guardianship"
"Jackson's mansion still being visited daily"
"Jackson's pet goat showing signs of depression"
"Michael Jackson had shoe fetish, friends say"
"Dispute errupts over M.J.'s last words"
"Contents of Jackson's refrigerator revealed!"
"Jackson's computers confiscated, autopsy results stil delayed"
"Ventura woman claims that Michael is her baby daddy"
"Secret vault found in Jackson's rented mansion"

These are just suggestions. I'm sure the LA Times has many more in the works. After all, there's nothing else important happening in Southern California.

[Patrick]

I guess the saying is true " Money can buy anything"?

[candace]

Bottom line, Michael was a competent adult and is responsible for his own actions; no one forced him to make the choices that he did.

[kelly]

im sad to hear the mj is dead however noone killed him. he was a grown man who could of made decisions on his own. he made hisself addicted to the drugs............... money can buy anything

[dawnettam]

This is sad that a licensed cardologist administer medicine outside the scope of his expertise. Dr. Conrad Murray is no different than Dr. Jack Kevorkian; he killed Michael Jackson and law officals should not allow known murders to walk the street like nothing has happen. If Conrad Murray gets away with this, than no vulnerable human being is safe under his care and it will send a message to other doctors that there is no consequence for criminal actions. Michael is paying the price, he is DEAD! His children no longer has a father.

[ildi]

Michael's bedroom was sipposed to be stifling hot. Rumours are that he was dead a couple of hours before alarm raised. Has anyone stopped to think that the good doctor may have turned up the heat to slow down body temperature to buy time to cover his tracks and remove/hide evidence? i.e. removal of files from storage? I'm no expert but this sounds valid to me.

[Jacs]

The two sister's that went to the storage unit holds the key. They know they have evidence that will prove Murray killed him.

[YenMinh]

This Doctor ad no thing to do with cure patient but getting money.

[briana mccray]

this iz crazy he iz deceased they should let him rest ... the doctor shuld be arrested for not callin 911 but if notjuz forgive even if u cant forget.....