Why won't Mary-Kate Olsen aid probe into Heath Ledger's death?

What does Mary-Kate Olsen know about Heath Ledger's drug use? And why won't she talk to DEA investigators about it?

Olsen has reportedly refused to be interviewed by federal investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency who are probing Heath Ledger's accidental drug-related death.

She won't talk unless she receives immunity from prosecution, which is her constitutional right.

But why does she need immunity?

The New York Post is reporting that MK's lawyer, Michael Miller, has repeatedly rebuffed the feds' attempts to talk to Olsen, who was called by her masseuse after the woman discovered Ledger's unresponsive body in his SoHo apartment in January 2008.

Asked whether he asked for immunity for his client, Mary-Kate Olsen's lawyer told the Post, "We are not going to comment on whether there is a criminal investigation," and declined to speak further.

OK, but ... the feds could force her to talk anyway.

Frustrated federal officials could get a grand jury subpoena to compel MK to spill secrets about Heath, his drug use and possible drug sources.

Everyone involved with Ledger — doctors, the masseuse, bodyguards, housekeepers, even Michelle Williams, the mother of his baby daughter, Matilda — has already cooperated and been questioned.

Olsen is reportedly the last witness needed to conclude the investigation into where Heath got the drugs and medicines that caused his accidental death.

The cause  of death was determined to be an overdose of sleep-aid medications, prescribed by two doctors, and of a powerful painkiller, OxyContin, from an unknown source.

Investigators want to find out where Heath got the OxyContin.

NYPD investigators closed their probe earlier this year without interviewing Olsen, a decision that caused a lot of raised eyebrows, given her friendship with Heath and their shared partying habits.

Maybe Mary-Kate can help get to the bottom of this. Maybe not. But shouldn't she try?

What do you think?

Photos: Mary-Kate Olsen at a Wackness party, top; Mary-Kate heading to the David Letterman show. Credits: WireImage

Comments

[Adam]

Why, for lack of more eloquent wording, does the DEA insist on beating a dead horse? There is nothing really to be gained from this expedition except for more mis-focused celebrity news in place of real stories, and misappropriated funds in place of real solutions (like getting rid of the DEA in the first place).

[Paul]

Because she may have been involved in his death? C'mon, MK - what have you got to hide? The truth sets people free; maybe the truth will put her in jail. Why call her bodyguards before she called 911?

[Edgar]

Hey, Adam. I guess the story hit close to home, eh? Either you are insanely protective of Heath's legacy, Mary-Kate's reputation (what little there is of it) or you think drugs should be legalized. Thing is, the DEA should investigate this case fully. To the very end. So that what happened to Heath NEVER happens again.

[Tony]

Why, for lack of more eloquent wording, do some people think a criminal investigation that might help in curbing the flow of drugs to people who have no medical need for them is "beating a dead horse"? If a family member dies from an overdose of a medication, and I had no clue where they came from, I'd want to hold responsible any person who decided to put my family through agony by hindering a prosecution. There is everything to be gained by her testimony in this investigation, namely, the truth.

[Never talk to cops!]

Never talk to police about anything!

[John]

Will anything she says bring him back? He O.D.ed. Does the DEA investigate every drug overdose death in this country like this? Don't they have some real work to do? leave the poor gir alone.

[Olddog]

Some questions are meant to remain as questions.
Grant her immunity or fogedaboudit!

[BCTCNT]

SHE SUPPLIED HIM THE DRUGS

[invictuz]

"Olsen is reportedly the last witness needed..."
Who "reported" she is the last witness?

" a decision that caused a lot of raised eyebrows"
Who's eyebrows were raised?

Quit making up comments for your blog!

[DontTrust TheDEA]

Can you really blame Mary-Kate for not wanting to talk to the DEA?

These are the people who trash our marijuana dispensaries, stealing their money and product and destroying everything possible. They are nothing but inhuman bullies who bear more resemblance to the guards at Auschwitch than they do to any US agency.

These are the same people who arrest sick and dying people for the mere possession of marijuana, and who for more than thirty years have bent over backwards to prevent the rescheduling of marijuana. They have one goal and one goal only, to protect their jobs at all costs!

Trust the DEA? You've got to be kidding! :(

[Aaron]

What amazes me is that the DEA's instistance upon tracking down the source of this 1 OxyContin. He could have received it in a sample pack from a pharmiseudical sales rep in his doctors office. Who hasn't received something like that before? What is the DEA doing tracing down single doses of FDA aproved pain killers instead of doing their job investigating illegal drugs responsible for the majority of the violent crimes in the US. You know... DOING THEIR JOB! Find the source of the uprising heroin epidemic, don't waste thousands of dollars of my tax money chasing down the person that handed a federally approved pill to someone who may have been in pain... Focus people, get it together... this is not only a blatant misappropriation of federally funded resources, it's just assinine. The DEA should be embarrased at the very least.

[Don't talk]

Her lawyer is right to tell her not to talk without immunity. It doesn't matter whether you have done anything wrong. If the gov't turns it eye upon you and can't prove you did anything wrong, it just claims you lied when they talked to you.
- Its better not to even talk to 'em.

[connie]

The oxycontin belonged to Mary Kate. That's why she wants immunity.

[connie]

The oxycontin belonged to Mary Kate. That's why she wants immunity.

[Kevoh]

I wish people would just shut up about this, hes dead, Mary Kate looks like shes dying of an eating disorder or something plus both of them look more like hillary clinton (in the face) every day. And just what is there to get to the bottom of? he ate pills and died, end of story

[Alan]

Is Mary-Kate speaking to the authorities going to bring Heath Ledger back to life? Of course not, there is no reason for her to place herself at any risk of legal problems. If the authorities just want to know about Ledger, as they claim, they already would have offered immunity. Instead it appears that the cops are on a witch hunt for someone to prosecute. I doubt that is what Heath Ledger would have wanted, may he rest in peace.

[pablo]

You claim that "She won't talk unless she receives immunity from prosecution, which is her constitutional right."

Where in the constitution does it say that? I understand that we are free from self-incrimination via the 5th amendment. However, that is a long shot from saying that we have a constitutional right to immunity if we've broken the law.

[american me]

When are Americans going to stop always pointing the finger at someone else for their own stupidity? Unless Ms. Olsen somehow poisoned him then she is in no way to blame for his death.

[yeah right]

Trust the DEA?? ANyone so nieve as to think you can trust the DEA has a brain the size of a a sweet pea. They are the thugs of the universe. Every country in the world knows it so why dont AMericans? They are gun toting, badge wearing thugs..period. They lie and cheat to justify their nice cushy jobs.

[Helen]

The only reason I see is that maybe Mary Kate Olsen supplied Keith Ledger with Oxycontin. I hope they do get down to the bottom of this - and if she gave him that pain killer she should be held responsible.

[elm]

It doesn't matter if he got this from this person and that from another...he chose to take all of them together. No one forced him. She is not responsible for his death. Ultimately, he is responsible for his own death.

[Why?]

Why do some people insist on finding where the drug came from. If it really did come from Mk does that make her responsible for his death? Most of you would say yes. I really want to know why people never take responsibility. The DEA loves to brainwash everyone into thinking that some big bad drug dealer is forcing people to take drugs. Stop blaming other people for your own problems!

[James]

Jeez, just give her immunity already. It's not going to hurt anything.

[Liz]

I have to agree with "Why?" on this one. People have overdosed on Ambien alone without intending to; the oxycontin didn't even necessarily have anything to do with it. MK fears prosecution - rightfully, I'd imagine - but that doesn't make her guilty even if she gave him the drugs or knew where they came from.

[swill]

Why not talk to the police? If you've the time, watch and learn. It's quite fascinating...and more than a bit scary.

http://www.tuccille.com/blog/2008/07/eight-reasons-even-innocent-shouldnt.html