Michael Jackson died of 'acute propofol intoxication,' coroner says [Updated]

The Los Angeles County coroner's office officially ruled the death of Michael Jackson a homicide and said he died of "acute propofol intoxication."

According to a statement from the coroner: The "manner of death has been ruled homicide. Cause of death was established as acute propofol intoxication. Other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine. The drugs propofol and lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson’s death. Other drugs detected were midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine, and ephedrine. The final coroner’s report includes a complete toxicology report that will remain on security hold at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office."

Homicide refers to a death at the hand of another person, but does not necessarily translate to criminal charges. In court papers, the Los Angeles Police Department has identified Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician at the time of his death, as the target of a manslaughter investigation.

Sources familiar with the multiagency investigation have stressed that a manslaughter prosecution is not inevitable, given Jackson’s history of drug use, health problems and other challenges in the case.

According to an affidavit unsealed in Houston last week, Murray told police that Jackson spent his last hours pleading for a dose of a powerful anesthetic.

Murray said he resisted -- fearful that the pop star had developed a dangerous addiction to propofol. Instead, Murray administered the sedatives Valium, lorazepam and midazolam -- five times over six hours. But none put Jackson to sleep and he continued to demand his "milk," the word the doctor said the pop star used for propofol.

Murray said he finally relented and at 10:40 a.m. added the drug to Jackson's intravenous drip, according to the records. That dose -- mixed with the cocktail of other sedatives in the pop star's system -- was enough to kill him, the coroner's office concluded in a preliminary toxicology report, according to the court records.

Authorities have sought records from at least five physicians who treated Jackson as well as pharmacies in Las Vegas and Beverly Hills, but Murray is the only doctor named in court documents as the target of the manslaughter investigation.

Jackson had specifically asked concert promoter AEG Live to hire Murray as his $150,000-a-month physician to travel with him to London, where he was scheduled to perform 50 concerts.

[Corrected at 5:10 p.m.: An earlier version of this post stated that the L.A. County coroner’s office concluded that a dose of the drug propofol administered to Jackson by Dr. Conrad Murray contributed to his death. An affidavit filed by the Los Angeles Police Department stated that Murray gave Jackson propofol shortly before he died. But the coroner’s report said only that Jackson died of "lethal levels" of propofol and did not specify who gave him the dose.]

-- Richard Winton at the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein

 

Comments

[Jennifer Lujan]

I like to give a small comment regarding Michael Jackson death. My family and I were big fans of his. I am sad to see him go, but at the same time feel like he will always be alive in our hearts. My 7 year old son is now a big fan of his. Michael Jackson was a great man and he will be miss. I like to tell his family how sorry we are and hope all this with his death will be solve and the Jackson family will soon have closer.

Thank You,
The Lujan Family.

[Greg Huntoon]

This is so sad to read. I'm just imagining this man who has withered away as the result of the ravaging affects of addiction and neglect, begging for sleep. Little did he know what he guilted his physician into (assuming you believe that the doctor resisted, which I do)...his final dose. Such a sad end to what was a wonderful and conflicted life. RIP MJ.

[BIG JON]

SUPRISED NO! some of us knew this all along michael is not the only black musical star to die mysteriously, some of us as blacks know in this society that this happens all the time. Jimmie Hemdryk, Sam Cooke, Lee Morgan, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, i was in a conversation just the other day, when one person said all black artist who has a cross over following will not live in in this society.

[cherisse]

Am very saddened by this discovery; my heart goes out to his family again,,his children,,,and my god have mercy on Dr.Murry if it was not his intentions to kill MJ,,,

[Beverly]

I hope they arrest Conrad Murray and bring him to trial. This sort of thing has gotten totally out of hand in the entertainment industry. Too many doctors stuffing their pockets at the expense of people's lives. The courts need to let doctors know that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ronny E. Antelo]

Michael Jackson suffered from Addiction Disease. His "problems" sleeping were but a symptom of a major problem. He went as far as his money took him. Buying medications and health care profesionals willing to take his payments. Elvis Praysley could have give him a couple of hints. And he tried trough his daughter. But no addict is willing to take the hint. An less they hit rock bottom. Or they die. Sad.

[mike]

IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU ARE FREE TO BE AS STUPID AS YOU WANT TO BE UNLESS IT CAN HURT SOMEONE ELSE....IN THIS CASE, THE DOCTOR HURT SOMEONE ELSE.....I THINK WE NEED TO ADMINISTER A COCKTAIL TO DR. MURRAY , STATE SPONSORED.....

[mike]

I GUESS THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT WANT ME ON THE JURY....MIKE

[berit Iren Apke]

what make you deserve this monthly paying? Doc. Murrey?
We really have to accept pain. Not to hide it. Not to feel ashame. Michael, I love you.. which I could understand you better ;-)

[kenny d]

It's starting to sound more like the Howard Hughes story.
The sad reality is the public wants closure.
The poor doctor will have to be the fall guy.
Now the sharks smell blood.
First, criminal, jail time civil with give us your money.
My advice is take a deal right off the top. Don't spend your money like O.J.,
The guy could have served five years and keep all his money.
No one cares if Micheal Jackson, in my perspective the best in his profession was for a better word a junkie, in addition, the adverage person without the will of god could not refuse a personality equally as great a consistent request for a drug as common as the drug that killed him.

[Michael]

Nobody forced Michael Jackson to take all the drugs found in his system. Quite the opposite, he sought out drugs by paying doctors ( up to $150,000 a month !!!) who would adhere to his wishes. Yes, it is terribly sad people could not say no to Mr. Jackson. I suspect many people close to Mr. Jackson knew what was occuring, but no one made an intervention. How tragic that fame and money can cause such pain.

[NightRider]

Ok, yes - the doctor needs to be held responsible for his part in the death of MJ, but he did not inject anything of his own volition. MJ himself was responsible in part. No one forced him to be on any kind of drugs. Keep in mind his own family called police because they thought MJ was an addict, and they reported drugs in the rented home where he died. Whether MJ was a talented musician, or aided charities has no bearing whatsoever on his death.

[LILI BARNES - Los Angeles, CA]

What a shame that such an inspiring person could not have been cured from a prescription medication addiction.

The world was his stage and the world did nothing to help him.

[the watchdog]

jackson was a drug addict...let's all admit it. he was juiced just like anyone who is dependent on drugs...he needed to detox and get clean. instead the pushers around him...AEG especially did nothing to stop his drug abuse. then this guy who calls himself a doctor...what a joke...he should be put in prison as the "pusher man" who is nothing but an enabler of the drug addict jackson...i won't buy or even listen to anything this drug addict has done...i say ban his drug addicted music from the airwaves and put the enablers in jail...let the mexican mafia make him their boytoy for life!!!

[Anne]

I do not believe a word Dr. Murray says about dosages or time of administration. They have no proof of Michael's "drug use" either. They better prosecute or they will have some serious explaining to do about why they let someone get away with killing Michael Jackson.

[kat]

Blaming the victim is not a defense nor will it prevent the prosecution from charging this quack with a crime. Involuntary manslaughter is what he needs to be charged with and that is what the evidence would support. The problem is, most of these GD prosecutors, hungry for the media attention, tend to over charge in these high profile crimes. Murray did not committ murder. He committed involuntary manslaughter - he accidently killed Jackson without intending to do him harm. It's the same as accidntly running over a pedestrian or engaging in some negligenct conduct that leads to the death of another. Dr. Murray killed Jackson with negligence and incompetence and he should pay.

[g]

MJ had apparently formed an addiction, and no matter who the "fall guy" may or may not be, the fact of the matter is Murray was the Physician, and had a medical responsiblity for patient care. He should have been knowledgeable of what drugs were in MJ's system, what could be administered and what were non-lethal amounts. You mix certain medications together, even small amounts, and it could turn fetal. That's why we have DOCTORs prescribing medications, not street vendors.

[jj]

MICHAEL JACKSON exceeds “pop culture.”
I appreciate him soooooooooo much and I will love him forever and ever and ever and ever.
Thank you MR. MICHAEL JACKSON.

[Brenda Fox]

There has been a conspiracy against Michael Jackson and as a result he has been murdered via covert action. Justice will not be done…History is repeated…

[Rosee]

Michael Jackson was the director of his own story! He called the shots....he took the shots...and in the end he is responsible for his own demise.

Yes, ALL the people who supplied him should be revealed and prosecuted. Dr. Murray isn't the only one involved in this fiasco... Who was the first one to give him the propofol?

Maybe..just maybe this will be a wake up call to those that give these celebrities anything they want. Doubt it..I thought that when Elvis passed...30+ years later..nothing has changed.

Also expose those that stood around him and let the status quo continue...you should be ashamed. I guess the gravy train / golden goose was more important than the person.

[justiceforall]

The "Pepsi fire" changed Michael's life, hence his addiction to pain medication.
Dr. Murray should have known better as a physician that the menu of drugs that he gave to Michael was over the top. He murdered MJ and he will have to pay.

[Kevin]

MJ was a junkie, but just for legal prescription drugs. The doctor knew that he would have to let MJ abuse these drugs if he took the job. He saw the $150,000/month and took it. The doctor should be convicted of negligent manslaughter but not serve jail time.

[Karmic]

Everyone knew that after the fire incident in 1984 and the 1993 turbulence in his life, Michael Jackson had pain killer and other drug addiction problems. Here the doctors were pumping loads of drugs inside his system. Okay, let's accept Michael asked for it. Yes he asked for it as he was in pain that he couldn't endure. The doctor was supposed to help him, but not give into his drug demand.

[Invincible]

Jackson wanted to live, he wanted to perform, entertain, show his kids his shows. He asked for drugs because he couldn't bear with his insomnia and all that physical and mental pain he had.
No one loved him enough to care for him. It's easy to say that one couldn't say No to Jackson. But the docs and everyone else wanted to pinch money off of him. It's so clear. Sad that a talent got lost as a victim of mass greed.

[Karma]

Whether or not Michael was addicted, Murray fired the Propfol bullet that killed him. Period. I think it would be a lovely posthumous birthday gift to Michael if Conrad Murray were arrested tomorrow.

Not only did the world lose an amazing talent and humanitarian, 3 innocent kids lost their daddy due to this clown's lack of moral character. Incidentally, I ran across a site where you can send messages of support to Paris Jackson: http://dearparisjackson.com. Those kids are really going through a tough time, all courtesy of Conrad Murray. How does he look at himself in the mirror or sleep at night?

[dhfawu]

put som pics in there

[David]

Dr. Murray could have, and SHOULD have, refused sicko Michael Jackson's request for the drugs. However, if Dr. Murray had refused Jackson's request, I seriously doubt it would have prevented MJ's untimely premature death. He still would be dead today ... since MJ would have just gone out and found another doctor who would give him whatever he wanted.

But Dr. Murray is a greedy doctor who gets what he deserves: lengthy stay in prison, loss of his license to practice medicine, and ... loss of a large sum of money in the forthcoming wrongful death suit that MJ's heirs will file after he is convicted of murder or, perhaps more likely (?), involuntary manslaughter.

[kjm]

Dr. Murry, in retrospect, what would you have done? You should have walked out, but you were greedy. Greed, lust, glutton. have you ever heard of the 'deadly sins'....we all have them. the only way to have freedom is it ask jesus into your heart, ask the Lord Jesus christ to forgive you of your sins and He the almighty can wash your slate clean. We all need to ask sooner or later. I hope Michael Jackson had that opportunity before his untimely death. How sad

[Jackie Wright]

If Mr. Jackson hired Dr. Murray to keephim in good health then why didn't he do so? Who was the doctor here and why did he not tell Mr. Jackson that it would not be smart to give the propafol so soon after the other drugs that were given!

[knowdalaw]

I agree with Dr. Murray's attorney. Release the Whole Toxicology report. Release the Full autopsy report. What are they afraid of? What are they holding back?

[mary g]

Sorry people, you can't blame this one on Michael. All of the drugs that were found in Michael's system, were directly administered by the good Dr. If you will read the list of drugs that were found, these are the ones that Dr. Murray admitted to giving him. Yes, Michael had a problem sleeping, and this problem caused him to turn to prescription meds., however he did not administer these to himself, he was killed by a careless Dr. who failed to watch after him, which he was being paid to do. Some of the information that has come out is that the paramedics say he was already dead when they got to him, and that his body temperature was not that of a person who had died within the last hour. It appears that Dr. Murray decided to try to conceal what he had done, and by not contacting medical personnel right away, he committed manslaughter. Whether you love or hate Michael, he did not deserve to die , and after a near-death situation, I know he would have seeked the help he needed. The media has blown Michael's drug use way out of proportion, he had NO lethal amounts of other drugs in his system. Instead of passing judgement, think if this was someone you loved, I guarantee you would not be so flippant about the Dr's actions.

[Rebirthgil]

Maybe someone did force Michael to take the drugs found in his body. No one knows what actually happened, and perhaps even why it happened. Dr. Murray was wrong for not simply refusing to give the drug to Michael, no matter how demanding Michael became. This sounds like malpractice to me; and all in the name of money. I also think that there is more than meets the eye going on here.

[Brenda Fox]

There has been a conspiracy against Michael Jackson and as a result he has been murdered via covert action. Justice will not be done…History is repeated…

[Brenda Fox]

There has been a plan against Michael Jackson and as a result he has been murdered via covert action. Justice will not be done…History is repeated…

[lina]

happy birthday michael , i miss you so much R.I.P

Dr. Murray could have, and SHOULD have, refused sicko Michael Jackson's request for the drugs. However, if Dr. Murray had refused Jackson's request, I seriously doubt it would have prevented MJ's untimely premature death. He still would be dead today ... since MJ would have just gone out and found another doctor who would give him whatever he wanted.

But Dr. Murray is a greedy doctor who gets what he deserves: lengthy stay in prison, loss of his license to practice medicine, and ... loss of a large sum of money in the forthcoming wrongful death suit that MJ's heirs will file after he is convicted of murder or, perhaps more likely (?), involuntary manslaughter.

[Susan]

It's so, so sad. For a man that entertained the world for decades, and he was still a young man, it breaks your heart to see him come to this sudden and unecessary end. Every time I hear his voice I get that familiar feeling of excitement and then it turns to pain because he's gone. As life goes on, future generations will come to know this kind man through his goodness of works and compelling lyrics and entertaining music. He will live on! He will always be remembered! As a fan he will always be in my heart.

[lara]

michael all love for birthday
We miss you very much, I hope they catch the killer quickly, I are your kids and your family goes well we hope to love you because where you're up for the angel you are feeling much better and now finally coming to rest you've earned it

I love you so much michael R.I.P

[lara]

michael all love for birthday
We miss you very much I hope they catch the killer quickly I are your kids and your family goes well we hope to love you because where you're up for the angel you are feeling much better and now finally coming to rest you've earned it

I love you so much michael R.I.P

[lara]

peace michael

[lara]

michael all love for birthday
We miss you very much I hope they catch the killer quickly I are your kids and your family goes well we hope to love you because where you're up for the angel you are feeling much better and now finally coming to rest you've earned it

I love you so dolle michael R.I.P

[Kieasha]

I think that the comments about the whole Michale Jackson death are really disgusting and nasty. I feel as though all of the nasty media has finnaly lost it, I say that because every thing that has been said about the man should be left alone, the man is dead and that's bad enough so why push it any longer and why put the Jackson family through more drama it's just not right. And I know that if all the paparazzi and others who had anything bad about Michale Jackson went through the same thihg the Jacksons have to go through would really know better.

[kyrann may-haynes]

"Sources familiar with the multiagency investigation have stressed that a manslaughter prosecution is not unavoidable; sure to happen given Jackson’s history of drug use, health problems and other challenges in the case"
What kind of statement is that? God works in mysterious ways. If you do not live 24 hours with a person, then, you have no proof of anything but hearsay.

Unlike most of this world's people, Micheal Jackson used doctors-"Do no harm"! Now, the hearsay of usage is just that hearsay. If he was so drugged out, why could he not sleep? Elvis Presley hearsay was that he was a druggie of prescription drugs and other waste your life away mess and he slept all the time and he was very bloated.

Now, Michael Jackson has died with a doctor on call and someone would put their licenses or their honor on a statement like the above. He was burned severely and other painful injuries and chronical diseases that was painful daily; therefore, unlike others, he had leagal reason to stop pain. This did not and I mean by God's righteous terms that he should have died from trying to sleep. I know people that have never seen or used drugs for pain that can not sleep. it is a herditary trait. Micheal Jackson was a talented from a higher being force and just maybe when he toured, he was doubled by his not being able to sleep.

Anyway, there were no one like Michael Jackson; therefore, stop comparing him to other people. What other person used doctors? Whst other icon loved all mankind and wanted love and a better world, or even at anytime didnot know how to hate or be evil and mean? He wanted to live and he was not responsible for all his pain and suffering. if the world does not stop the wrongful prosecution of people like him, then, just maybe we will need another cleansing of right from wrong.

What really caused this great icon to die? Why was there a bloody blouse that the investigators left in his home? was they so sure that this was a overdose death that they failed to recognize that a doctor was there and search for the real time of death? This is horrible and God is watching because a miscarriage of justice is something that can not go down in history as the above statement-"not inevitable! Some one or grops of people will suffer for this negative hearsay regard for life. Follow the facts. He was in good health from January to April-a registered nurse docomented that with blood tests and other methods. The cook documented that he did not appear drugged out. He rehearsed well and in his national televised statement: " I cannot preform with percision when I take too many drugs". this is enough and forget the hearsay. Someone or something killed micheal Jackson. that is it! He trusted the medical profession and it did not help him stay alive-end of story!

[Ted F]

While the doctor was out of the room Michael probably took a syringe and drew a new dose of propofol out of a vial and injected it directly into the IV bag (or between his toes). He threw the used syringe into the sharps container and got back into bed before the doctor returned to the room. Within moments he was dead.

[themagicsinheaven]

So sad!
It is really too bad that there was no other doctors, (someone who cared, and not just looked at the monetary value, but the human value) who could have directed him to a more natural way to deal with his pain and sleeping disorder.
I have had bouts of sleep depervation, and it really sucks!
You don't care about anything except to get to sleep.
I have found a natural way of dealing with it other then drugs. However MJ had so many other ailments and more stress and pressure on him than anyone I could think of, he had to impress the world again.....while in so much pain.
It still feels like he died yesterday. RIP- MJ

[timtiger]

If Conrad Murray wanted to keep his 150,000 a month gig, he wouldn't have killed the hand that fed him - unless he was into self denial or self destruction. (Parasites don't usually kill the host unless thaey have another ship to jump to)

Fact is Michael J wasn't sleeping. And when you think of it, a lot of celebrities have issues, if not most, at some point in their lives or another. But who doesn't? You don't need to be a celebrity to be part of the 'has issues' demographic.

It's tough being in the public view - people expect so much, especially sexual and chemical decorum - any perceived infraction leads to protracted scrutiny, possible arraignment and or punitive measures ranging from gossip to jail, epic media speculation, confabulation, monitoring and the turning over of every last legal, moral, and factual stone, feeding people's fear and phony righteous or moral highgrounds, milking the senasationalism until there is no milk left often leaving the celebrity hurt and more likely to want to feed their addictions to get away from all the negatives. And as to the root causes of his insomnia........the fire, his stolen childhood, his family dynamics...........is it our business, or does this also give people food for righteous indignance as they sit in their comfy chairs surfing the net or flipping through newspapers, avoiding the cost of their own histories.

Isn't it enough that MJ gave so much in his own way - does he have to be a messiah as well?

How about we focus on what we, ourselves, can offer, instead...........continue the lines or lines similar to his and other legacies of decent people who actually said and did something while they were here. (and this applies to the legacy of Ted K too).

[meHH]

..i will mix u michael!=(

[Jahanzeb]

we want Murray and everyone else responsible of that HANGED.
RIP MJ.

[vavanaxos]

Why nobody speak about Dc Murray's diseapper for few hours immediatly after emergency take M ichael Jackson to hospital. What did he hide? Probably clues.!

[Yvonne S Black]

Dr Murray should be held responseable. This man should have known better. The ativan and versed could have been deadly along and then he adds the drug propofol. I think Micheal was an experiment for him. He wanted to see how far he could go and everything went wrong. He was just another leach that Micheal encountered. We will never forget how much he gave the world and how much we took form him . God bless his mother and his brothers and sisters and most of all his children who knew him as the greatest dad in the world

[irun diz bitch pplez]

micheal jackson we all love u n misses u and we all knw dat he will be n a better place now. we was all shocked wen we heard that u died. he was juz too young to die. love me I LUV U MICHEAL N ALWAYZ WILL

[Alex]

Dr. Murray was an enabler and Michael Jackson a troubled soul, with multiple psychiatric disorders including drug addiction. He probably needed to be locked in a psychiatric ward or a detox center. His addiction of course killed him, and the Doctor should have never played around with so many medications. Propofol, as already described by the media, is not a drug normally used for insomnia, It's used as an anesthetic for surgery, or for critically ill patients who are already being mechanically ventilated. I love Michael Jackson's music, but as a person he was diseased, and by diseased I mean mentally ill. Too bad he didn't have a good friend or a family member who would actually stand up and denounce his addiction and deny him of all his demands.

[Christopher James]

Use your discrimination that I am a lifer on pain meds. Both medicaly as well recreationaly to break the boredom of my disability. Michael knew what he was dancing with,and I hardely beleive he cared if he did not awake out of nothingness into the zoo that his father and himself created.I am not a bitter person nor do I have a deathwish.
But can aneyone immagine the loss of your childhood,the public laughing behind their eyes as he attempted to catch his fleeting child hood. I only mourn those who YRULY loved the man TRULY loved their son. For thoes I pray. Thank you.
CJD

[Jared]

Um im sorry is everyone forgetting that hes an alleged pedophile? Granted no charges ever stuck.... but why would you pay parents 20 million to keep their and their kids mouth shut... Besides the fact that he was a raging drug addict with obvious mental issues. Everyone needs to stop idolizing him and look at him for who he really was. A drug addicted pedophile with such terrible issues as to get facial surgery that made him look like an abomination. Everyone needs to stop being so naive and omg hes a musician. Im not sorry i dont feel bad hes dead.

[Shante Pierson]

I honestly believe that as a practicing doctor, be should have never given Micheal Jackson that concoction of drugs in the first place. He knew that it wasn't in his best interest to add that last drug to his iv drip. I feel that he should loose his license to practice medicine. There is no way he was supposed to just "give in" to mj's demand for more stronger drugs. My condolences to the Jackson Family.

[Judy]

Dr. Murray needs to be charged with malpractice and involuntary manslaughter. I herniated several discs in my neck and lower back and consequently I am on a lot of pain medication and have been for several years. I had my second low back surgery last year, and the first night at the hospital I asked for ambien the med that I had been taking for over a year that put me to sleep. My doctor had me on it due to the pain that kept me awake all night. However, after surgery they wouldn't allow me to have it because I was on morphine and they tried giving me several muscle relaxers instead of ambien. Nothing worked. At 3:00 am in the morning I was begging for some ambien -- but they said NO. The nurse asked the doctor if they could but he wouldn't because the combination with the post anesthetics in my system could have been fatal. I JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. I didn't get any sleep all night but I had to deal with it. I didn't realize that a medication I had been taking along with my usual pain medication and muscled relaxer could possibly be fatal when I had been taking it for a year. However, with partial anesthetics still in my system that combination could have killed me. Thank GOD I had doctors and nurses around me who would deny me any medication that could have killed me....even when I was repeatedly asking for it. It's the same with Dr. Murray and Michael Jackson. MJ was probably not told that it could be fatal to take that along with the other muscle relaxers. Dr. Murray should have known that...but was negligent.

[isha]

MJ was the king of pop. his talent will never be out done or even forgotten. his death was a tradedy felt by millions... iT breaks my heart to imagine that man leaving this planet feeling that he wasn't loved. and so misunderstod. we cant bring Him back, but i sure wish he was still here. there will never be another MJ. god bless all who love him. and people- hear his words and do your part to make that change to save what you can while here on earth. for future generations, lets all clean up our areas and make this planet stay beautiful.
stop hating, its a waste of energy.
LIVE AND LET LIVE
and prosper!

RIP MJ. you are a legend and are missed by so many. L.O.V.E.
peace.

[heather hastings]

i have grown to really love michael and his music. i cried when he died. and i dont believe any of them people who said he was a child mellestor. if he was then he s the richest most famous one ive ever known.