Whitney Houston Died From Combination Of Heart Disease, Cocaine & Drowning: Leave Her Alone! R.I.P.

Cocaine, heart disease contributed to Houston's drowning, coroner says

Whitney Houston died from an accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub, but the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" were contributing factors in her death, the Los Angeles County coroner said in an initial autopsy report released Thursday.

Houston, 48, was "found submerged in bathtub filled with water" and "no trauma or foul play is suspected," the coroner said in a one-page release.
Her cocaine use appeared to have occurred "in the time period just immediately prior to her collapse in the bathtub at the hotel," Chief Coroner Craig Harvey told reporters.

The 60% narrowing of her arteries "suggest a cardiac event complicated by the cocaine use" led to Houston's slipping underwater, Harvey said.

"Something happened that caused her to go down and we know that when she slipped under the water she was still alive," he said. "We have evidence of drowning since there was water in the lungs."

The toxicology tests found other drugs in her body, including marijuana, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril and the allergy medicine Benadryl, the report said. But these drugs "did not contribute to the death," it said.

The report released Thursday did not disclose the levels of each drug, but that information will be included in the final coroner report to be made public within two weeks, the coroner said.

Houston's family, which had been informed of the findings before Thursday's release, issued a statement through a family spokeswoman.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure," said Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and former manager.

Houston died February 11 in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the day before the music industry gathered for the annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Authorities had said that police and fire officials were called to Houston's room at the Beverly Hilton after her unconscious body was found in the bathtub, just hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammy party at the hotel.

Houston won six Grammys and sold 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

In recent years, the singer's accomplishments were overtaken by her struggles with drug addiction.


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Sources: CNN, Google Maps

Brittany Murphy's Death An Accident; Autopsy Results

Brittany Murphy's Death Ruled An Accident


Actress Brittany Murphy's death was an accident caused by a combination of pneumonia, an iron deficiency and "multiple drug intoxication," the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday.

The 32-year-old actress was found dead in her Hollywood Hills, California, home December 20.

No information was given about what types of drugs were involved.

The coroner issued a short statement on his findings Thursday and said the autopsy report would be available within two weeks.

Her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, has told People magazine the actress had "laryngitis and flu-like symptoms" at the time of her death.

Monjack said Murphy used Vicoprofen to relieve pain from severe menstrual cramps.

"She was on an antibiotic and was taking cough medicine," he said.

Murphy was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, after she was rushed there in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 20.

The often bubbly, free-spirited actress appeared in films such as "Clueless," "8 Mile," "Don't Say a Word" and "Girl, Interrupted." She also lent her voice to animated works, including the movie "Happy Feet" -- in which she also sang -- and a regular voice role on the animated TV series "King of the Hill."

Murphy was best-known for her work in a string of comedies earlier this decade, including playing lead roles in "Uptown Girls" alongside fellow Georgia native Dakota Fanning and "Little Black Book" with Holly Hunter and Kathy Bates.

She is survived by her husband.


Sources: CNN, NY Daily News

Jackson Had Possession Of The Sedative Diprivan...How Did He Get It? From Whom? Begged Nurse For Some

MSN Music News----

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LOS ANGELES - The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home, a law enforcement official said Friday.

Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's administered intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home.

The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.

Also Thursday, information was released about registering for free tickets for Jackson's public memorial, which is set for Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

As Jackson recently prepared for a massive series of comeback concerts, he was so distraught over persistent insomnia that he pleaded for Diprivan, according to Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who was working with the singer.

Lee said she repeatedly rejected his demands because the drug was unsafe.

It's still not known what caused Jackson's death at age 50. The pop star went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, performed CPR while an ambulance was called, according to Murray's lawyers. Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect.

An autopsy was conducted but results are not expected for several weeks. The Jackson family had a second autopsy performed and those results also are pending.

Free tickets to Jackson's memorial service can be obtained by registering at Staplescenter.com

There will be 11,000 tickets for seats inside Staples Center and 6,500 for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans can watch a simulcast. There also will be a free worldwide video feed.

After 6 p.m. Saturday, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each. Notifications will go out on Sunday. Those selected can obtain their tickets via Ticketmaster on Monday.

No details of the memorial service itself have been released.




Former Jackson Nurse States Michael Begged Her For Diprivan

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson was so distraught over persistent insomnia in recent months that he pleaded for a powerful sedative despite warnings it could be harmful, says a nutritionist who was working with the singer as he prepared his comeback bid.

Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said Tuesday that she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan, which is given intravenously.

But a frantic phone call she received from Jackson four days before his death made her fear that he somehow obtained Diprivan or another drug to induce sleep, Lee said.

While in Florida on June 21, Lee was contacted by a member of Jackson's staff.

"He called and was very frantic and said, `Michael needs to see you right away.' I said, 'What's wrong?' And I could hear Michael in the background ..., 'One side of my body is hot, it's hot, and one side of my body is cold. It's very cold,'" Lee said.

"I said, `Tell him he needs to go the hospital. I don't know what's going on, but he needs to go to the hospital ... right away."

"At that point I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system," she said, adding, "He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out."

Jackson did not go to the hospital. He died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest, his family said. Autopsies have been conducted, but an official cause of death is not expected for several weeks.

"I don't know what happened there. The only thing I can say is he was adamant about this drug," Lee said.

Nurse: Jackson desperate for sleep:

Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. But Lee said she encountered a man tortured by sleep deprivation and one who expressed opposition to recreational drug use.

"He wasn't looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs," she said. "This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest."

Jackson was rehearsing hard for what would have been his big comeback — his "This Is It" tour, a series of performances that would have strained his aging dancer's body. Also, pain had been a part of his life since 1984, when his scalp was severely burned during a Pepsi commercial shoot.

Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, Lee said. It is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. It is generally given through an IV needle in the hand.

Patients given Propofol take less time to regain consciousness than those administered certain other drugs, and they report waking up more clear-headed and refreshed, said University of Chicago psychopharmacologist James Zacny.

It has also been implicated in drug abuse, with people using it to "chill out" or to commit suicide, Zacny said. Accidental deaths linked to abuse have been reported. The powerful drug has a very narrow therapeutic window, meaning it doesn't take doses much larger than the medically recommended amount to stop a person's breathing.

An overdose that stops breathing can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide, causing the heart to beat erratically and leading to cardiac arrest, said Dr. John Dombrowski, a member of the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Because it is given intravenously and is not the kind of prescription drug typically available from pharmacists, abuse cases have involved anesthesiologists, nurses and other hospital staffers with easy access to the drug, Zacny said.

In recent months, Lee said, Jackson waved away her warnings about it.

"I had an IV and when it hit my vein, I was sleeping. That's what I want," Lee said Jackson told her.

"I said, 'Michael, the only problem with you taking this medication' — and I had a chill in my body and tears in my eyes three months ago — 'the only problem is you're going to take it and you're not going to wake up," she recalled.

According to Lee, Jackson said it had been given to him before but he didn't want to discuss the circumstances or identify the doctor involved.

The singer also drew his own distinctions when it came to drugs versus prescription medicine.

"He said, `I don't like drugs. I don't want any drugs. My doctor told me this is a safe medicine,'" Lee said. The next day, she said she brought a copy of the Physician's Desk Reference to show him the section on Diprivan.

"He said, 'No, my doctor said it's safe. It works quick and it's safe as long as somebody's here to monitor me and wake me up. It's going be OK,'" Lee said. She said he did not give the doctor's name.

Lee said at one point, she spent the night with Jackson to monitor him while he slept. She said she gave him herbal remedies and stayed in a corner chair in his vast bedroom.

After he settled in bed, Lee told Jackson to turn down the lights and music — he had classical music playing in the house. "He also had a computer on the bed because he loved Walt Disney," she said. "He was watching Donald Duck and it was ongoing. I said, `Maybe if we put on softer music,' and he said, `No, this is how I go to sleep.'"

Three and a half hours later, Jackson jumped up and looked at Lee, eyes wide open, according to Lee. "This is what happens to me," she quoted him as saying. "All I want is to be able to sleep. I want to be able to sleep eight hours. I know I'll feel better the next day."

Did insomnia have roots in 2005 trial?

Lee, 56, is licensed as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in California, according to the state Board of Registered Nursing's Web site. She attended Los Angeles Southwest College and the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences in Los Angeles.

Comedian Dick Gregory, who knows Lee and her work, said he believes Jackson's insomnia had its roots in the pop star's 2005 trial on child molestation charges. Jackson's health had deteriorated so much that his parents called Gregory, a natural foods proponent, for help.

Gregory said Jackson wasn't eating or drinking at the time, and after he was persuaded by Gregory to undergo testing, ended up hospitalized for severe dehydration.

But Jackson obviously was healthy enough to withstand the level of medical scrutiny needed to insure him for the upcoming high-stakes London concerts, Gregory said. "That you don't trick," he said of the exams.

Lee, who has also worked with Stevie Wonder, Marla Gibbs, Reynaldo Rey and other celebrities, said she was introduced to Jackson by the mother of one of his staff members. Jackson's three children had minor cold symptoms and their pediatrician was out of town.

Lee said she went to the house in January, the first of about 10 visits there through April, and treated the children with vitamins. Michael, intrigued, asked what else she did and took her up on her claim she could boost his energy.

After running blood tests, she devised protein shakes for him and gave him an intravenous vitamin and mineral mixture — known as a "Myers cocktail," after Dr. John Myers — which Lee said she uses routinely in her practice.

"It wasn't that he felt sick," she said. "He just wanted more energy."

Lee said she decided to speak out to protect Jackson's reputation from what she considers unfounded allegations of drug abuse or shortcomings as a parent.

"I think it's so wrong for people to say these things about him," she said. "He was a wonderful, loving father who wanted the best for his children."



What is Diprivan?


Diprivan is used to start or maintain anesthesia during certain surgeries, tests, or procedures. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Diprivan is a general anesthetic. It is unknown exactly how this medication works.


Do NOT use this medication if:

* you are allergic to any ingredient in this medication
* you are allergic to eggs, egg products, soybeans, or soy products

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Diprivan :

Some medical conditions may interact with this medication . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

* if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
* if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
* if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
* if you have inflammation of the pancreas, high lipid levels in the blood, or epilepsy

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with this medication . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

* Benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), narcotic pain relievers (eg, morphine), or other sedatives (eg, chloral hydrate) because they may increase the risk of this medication 's side effects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if this medication may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


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Sources: MSN Music News, MSNBC, ABC News, Drugs.com, Dr Naps.com, Google Maps

Jackson's Doctor Not Board Certified, Paid $150,000. Monthly...Failed To Provide Legal Duty of Care!!

MSNBC----

Folks the plot and investigation surrounding the mysterious death King of Pop Michael Jackson, continues to thicken day by day.

This morning on the "Morning Joe" show Dr. Nancy Snyderman reported that Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, was NOT a Medical Board Certified Cardiologist and did NOT have Hospital Admitting privileges!

Dr. Snyderman whose Medical opinion I highly respect and who finally has her own show which debuts today on MSNBC, conducted research on this Conrad Murray's character & professional background.

Here's what she discovered:

Murray is a graduate of the Meharry Medical College.

He's not medical board certified as a Cardiologist.

He's licensed to practice in California, Texas and Nevada.

However Dr. Snyderman states she could find NO Hospitals where he had Admitting privileges. (OMG! Where Jackson find this guy?)

Murray was actually requested to be placed on the payroll by Jackson.

He was being paid $150,000. per month (by the Promoter of his London shows) to care for Jackson only.

Both Murray and his sister, a Nurse were living in Jackson's home.

Murray was performing CPR on Jackson while he was lying on the bed.

Dr. Snyderman states that CPR should ONLY be performed on a hard surface to get the compression correctly and to ensure that your not pressing too firmly on the patient's chest.


Reasons why Jackson's family should sue Murray and why he should be Criminally charged:

He was hired by Jackson and paid by the promoter of Jackson's London shows, scheduled for July.

As a doctor Murray had a Legal obligation to provide Accurate Duty of Care for his Patient.

Doctor's are held to this Legal Standard due to the level of Medical Knowledge they hold.

Thus Murray's first obligation should have been to his patient (Jackson) NOT the London Promoter.

Dr. Snyderman also states that Murray told LAPD he only gave Jackson the medications he requested.

The last time I checked Michael Jackson was NOT a Physician!

Since when does a doctor give his or her patients medicines THEY request versus what's Medically best for them????


Come on people!

This kind of stuff has been going on for years and it needs to be stopped!

Murray appears to have ONLY been in the deal for the money. The guy was nearly $500,000. in debt and had been sued previously.

Its obvious this guy was nothing more than a Legalized Prescription Drug Pusher and he should be prosecuted just like an Illegal Drug Pusher, for the Manslaughter of Michael Jackson.

Even if Michael Jackson did have a Prescription drug problem, Murray as a Licensed Physician (although NOT Board Certified) still had a Legal Duty of Care to put Jackson's health first, NOT Jackson's desire for more drugs.

This same thing took place when Anna Nicole Smith died and the doctor in that situation WAS charged with contributing to her death.

Murray deserves the same treatment.

Murray no doubt violated his Oath and Medical Ethics for money.

Something is seriously wrong with our current Health Care system when a person regardless of their wealth, is able to obtain prescription drugs legally at their whim.

This includes the Pharmacists who fill those prescriptions for the SAME patient without raising an eyebrow.

Jackson's Toxicology test results should help reveal the fact that Murray should be charged with Manslaughter and then be sued by the Jackson family for Malpratice.

Let Murray's Trial begin.

Stay tuned.


(Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray and HIS lawyer reports Murray did not give the King of Pop any Demerol. I call BS on that statement!)

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(Reported drug use troubled Jackson's peers.)

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LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Lawyer Edward Chernoff also said Dr. Conrad Murray never prescribed or gave Jackson the drugs Demerol or OxyContin. He denied reports suggesting Murray gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff told the AP that Murray was at the pop icon’s rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.

“He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn’t breathing,” the lawyer said. “Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse.”

Jackson’s family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday.

People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.

Chernoff said any drugs the doctor gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the 50-year-old.

“Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson,” Chernoff said. “Not ever. Not that day. ... Not Oxycontin (either) for that matter.”

Chernoff told NBC's "Dateline" that he could not reveal specific medications Jackson was taking, but added that if toxicology tests revealed the presence of Demerol or Oxycontin, "it will be a surprise to us."

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.)

When asked by "Dateline" about the state of Jackson's health, Chernoff said, "he was a frail man, he didn't like to drink or eat. He wasn't exactly healthy to begin with."

Says CPR was correctly performed:

Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call. Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Chernoff responded to allegations that Murray performed CPR incorrectly by performing it while Jackson lay in bed, rather than immediately moving him to a hard surface. Chernoff told "Dateline" that Murray adjusted his treatment by putting one hand behind Jackson's back and performing compressions with the other hand.

"Keep in mind, Michael Jackson is a very frail individual and the doctor knew this," Chernoff told "Dateline." "And he was compressing hard enough that the doctor knew he was pumping the blood throughout the system." Chernoff said Murray did eventually move Jackson to the floor where he continued CPR.

Chernoff also debunked rumors that Jackson's children saw their father collapse and thought he was faking. "No, that (rumor) came out of nowhere," he told "Dateline." "The kids did not see that."

Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman called Murray “a witness to this tragedy,” not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.

Chernoff also said the promoter of Jackson’s 50-show London concerts, AEG Live, owes the cardiologist $300,000.

“His contract with the promoters states he would receive an amount of money each month to be his (Jackson’s) personal physician and they have failed to honor that contract,” Chernoff said. “They are two months behind.”

Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, acknowledged the contract called for Murray to be paid $150,000 a month, but said the contract required Jackson’s signature.

“Michael never signed the contract,” Phillips said.

He also said the doctor’s claim for payment may be against Jackson’s estate, not AEG which was merely advancing the money to Jackson.

On Saturday, Murray, who was with Jackson during his final moments, sat down with investigators for three hours. His spokeswoman said he is not a suspect in the death.

Murray “helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies,” spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said. She said the doctor remains “a witness to this tragedy.”

Police confirmed they had interviewed Murray and said he was cooperative.

Lawyer selected:

Meanwhile, Jackson’s mother selected a lawyer who represented Jackson last year in a breach-of-contract suit and has advised other high-profile clients to help the family, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson’s family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.

“It’s abnormal,” Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. “We don’t know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed.”

A private pathologist hired by the Jackson family completed the second autopsy Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the case.

A second autopsy can allow the family to get some information about a death almost immediately, including signs of heart, brain or lung disease or fresh needle punctures, said Dr. Michael Baden, a medical examiner not involved in the Jackson case.

“Usually if it looks normal with the naked eye, it looks normal under the microscope,” said Baden, who recently performed a second autopsy on actor David Carradine.

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials completed their autopsy on Jackson on Friday and said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. But because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to determine.

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

No word on funeral plans, guardians:

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson’s relatives have gathered at the family’s Encino compound, caring there for Jackson’s three children.

It remains unclear whom Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details, likely contained in the 50-year-old singer’s will, have not been released.

An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family “be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace.”

A White House adviser said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President Barack Obama had written to the Jackson family to express his condolences.

Al Sharpton, who arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, said he was heading to the Jackson compound and would talk with the family about how to memorialize the late pop star. Sharpton said they want to hold memorials in key cities around the globe and also planned a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater in New York.

On Saturday, three of Jackson’s brothers — Jackie, Jermaine and Tito — visited Jackson’s Neverland Ranch where they walked the manicured grounds and reminisced about his life. It is not clear what will become of the ranch, which has been under renovations.

Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where investor Thomas Barrack is chairman and CEO, said it was premature to discuss the future of Neverland. Barrack previously set up the joint venture with Michael Jackson after the singer nearly lost the ranch to foreclosure.

Barrack feels close to family members and wants to hear their thoughts on how best to honor Jackson’s memory, Blicksilver said. The investor joined Jackie, Jermaine and Tito Jackson for lunch Saturday at the sprawling Santa Barbara County property.


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Sources: MSNBC, Washington Post, Huffington Post, WCHStv, California Women.org, Wikipedia, Google Maps

Jackson's Doctor Cooperates With LAPD, Reveals Circumstances Leading To His Death

MSNBC-----

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LOS ANGELES - The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's final moments sat down with investigators for the first time to explain his actions — and left three hours later as a witness, not a suspect.

Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," Murray's spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement Saturday. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."

Murray, a physician with a tangled financial and personal history who was hired to accompany Jackson on his planned summer concert tour, reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The pop star was declared dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."

The interview took place on a busy day when one of Jackson's lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests and celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a star-studded public celebration of the King of Pop's life.

L. Londell McMillan, who represented Jackson last year in a breach of contact lawsuit and has advised high-profile clients such as Prince, was picked to help the family by Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

"Abnormal":

The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.

"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."

The second autopsy was completed Saturday at the family's request, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Saturday evening, quoting unnamed sources.

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday he had spoken with Jackson's brothers Jackie and Jermaine and plans to meet with the family Sunday at their request. The family is considering a series of simultaneous global celebrations and other ideas as they decide how to commemorate the life of the King of Pop, he says.

Sharpton says the family is frustrated that so much of the media attention has focused on Michael Jackson's problems. They want to make sure he's remembered for his spectacular contributions to music and culture.

Questions around children:

It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.

An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

Sisters Janet and La Toya arrived Saturday at the mansion Jackson had been renting and left without addressing reporters. Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.

The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.

"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."

"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.

Organizers of the annual BET awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — scrambled to revamp Sunday's show to honor Jackson and his legacy.

Previously announced acts, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, hoped to change their planned performances to honor Jackson, said producer Stephen Hill. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate.

A person close to the family told The Associated Press they feel upset and angry about a lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days. The person requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.

Jackson never communicated to his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, the person said, adding that they were told by the singer’s phalanx of advisers that he likely had a will, but it may be many years old. The family is distrustful of what they are being told — but they are determined to find out more, the person said.

“There are decisions going down without the family being in the loop; it’s becoming an issue,” the person said.

Randy Phillips, AEG Live president and chief executive, said earlier Friday that it was Jackson who insisted that Murray, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed Thursday, be put on the tour payroll.

Jackson had been rehearsing for 50 London concerts aimed at restoring his crown as the King of Pop. He died Thursday at age 50 after what his family said appeared to be cardiac arrest.

Desperate 911 call:

A 911 call from Jackson's rented home reported that his personal doctor was trying to revive him without success.

An emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon.

In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.

"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."

Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."


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Sources: MSNBC, LA Times, Google Maps

Michael Jackson's Cardiologist Should Be Charged With Malpractice & Manslaughter! Legalized Drug Pusher!

MSNBC----

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

LOS ANGELES - The final act of Michael Jackson's life has come into clearer focus, a picture of a fallen superstar working out with TV's "Incredible Hulk" and under the care of his own private cardiologist as he tried to get his 50-year-old body in shape for a grueling bid to reclaim his glory.

While the exact circumstances of his death remained unclear, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said there were no signs of foul play or trauma.

Ed Winter of the coroner's office told reporters Friday night that Jackson's body had been transported to a mortuary at around 9:15 p.m. PDT.

Jackson's remains had been "moved to an undisclosed location per a family privacy request. There is also a security hold and so I can't discuss the location," Winter said.

The autopsy was completed in a matter of hours, but an official cause of death could take up to six weeks while medical examiners await toxicology tests. No funeral plans have been made public.

Jackson's brother Jermaine has said the pop singer apparently went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, leading to his death.

Craig Harvey, a spokesman for the coroner, said earlier that further tests would be needed to determine the cause of death. He said Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medication but gave few other details.

Police said they had towed the doctor's BMW from Jackson's home because it may include medication or other evidence.

Authorities said they spoke with Jackson's private doctor briefly Thursday and Friday and expected to meet with him again soon. Police stressed that the doctor, identified by the Los Angeles Times as Cardiologist Conrad Murray, was not a criminal suspect.

"We do not consider him to be uncooperative at this time," said police Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said. "We think that he will assist us in coming to the truth of the facts in this case."

As grief for the King of Pop poured out from the icons of music to heartbroken fans, and the world came to grips with losing one of the most luminous celebrities of all time, an autopsy showed no sign of trauma or foul play to Jackson, who died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center after paramedics not could not revive him.

Desperate 911 call:

Meanwhile, an emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon. Jackson died later at UCLA Medical Center.

In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.

"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."

Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."

The president of the company promoting Jackson's shows said Murray was Jackson's personal physician for three years. Jackson insisted Murray accompany him to London, said Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live.

Phillips quoted Jackson as saying: "Look, this whole business revolves around me. I'm a machine, and we have to keep the machine well-oiled." Phillips said Jackson submitted to at least five hours of physicals that insurers had insisted on.

Jackson had remained out of the public spotlight during intense rehearsals for the London concerts, but those with access said he was upbeat and seemingly energized by his planned comeback. Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammys, said he watched Jackson dance energetically as recently as Wednesday.

"There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, 'You know, it's been years since I've seen that,'" he said.

Lou Ferrigno, the star of "The Incredible Hulk," said he had been working out with Jackson for the past several months.

Precarious health:

Still, Jackson's health had been known to be precarious in recent years, and one family friend said Friday that he had warned the entertainer's family about his use of painkillers.

"I said one day we're going to have this experience. And when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, I said we cannot have this kind of thing with Michael Jackson," Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's TODAY. "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."

Oxman claimed Jackson had prescription drugs at his disposal to help with pain suffered when he broke his leg after he fell off a stage and for broken vertebrae in his back.

The worldwide wave of mourning for Jackson continued unabated for the man who revolutionized pop music and moonwalked his way into entertainment legend.

"My heart, my mind are broken," said Elizabeth Taylor, who was one of Jackson's closest friends and married one of her husbands at a lavish wedding at the pop star's Neverland Ranch in 1991. She said she had heard the news as she was preparing to travel to London for Jackson's comeback show, and added, "I can't imagine life without him."

Tributes:

Hundreds made a pilgrimage to the Jackson family's compound in Los Angeles, leaving flowers and messages of love. They did the same at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and at the home in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills where Jackson was stricken. Some camped out overnight.

In New York, people stopped at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Jackson had performed as a child with his brothers in one of rock's first bubblegum supergroups, the Jackson 5.

Diana Ross, the former lead singer of the Supremes who introduced the Jackson 5 at their debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1969, said she could not stop crying. "I am unable to imagine this," she said. "My heart is hurting."

His two ex-wives both said they were devastated. One of them, Lisa Marie Presley, posted a long, emotional statement on her MySpace page in which she said her ex-husband had confided to her 14 years ago that he feared dying young and under tragic circumstances, just as her father, Elvis Presley, had.

"I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that," Presley said.

Presley's father, the King of Rock 'n' Roll to Jackson's King of Pop, died in 1977 at age 42 of a drug-related death.

The White House also weighed in for the first time, with a spokesman saying President Barack Obama saw Jackson as a spectacular performer and music icon whose life nonetheless had sad and tragic aspects. The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence.

At rehearsals for Sunday's Black Entertainment Awards show, stars like Beyonce, Wyclef Jean and Ne-Yo were frantically revamping their performances in an effort to turn the evening into a Michael Jackson tribute.

Taking a toll:

When he was on trial on child molestation charges in 2005, Jackson appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. His trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits, and Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.

After his acquittal, Jackson's prosecutor argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the Santa Barbara County estate Jackson had converted into a children's playland. Among the items were syringes, the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.

Demerol carries a long list of warnings to users. The government warns that mixing it with certain other drugs can lead to reactions including slowed or stopped breathing, shock and cardiac arrest.


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Sources: MSNBC, Google Maps