Michael Jackson’s body has been released to his family amid reports that the singer was regularly taking a cocktail of prescription drugs.
His body was taken to a mortuary late on Friday night at the request of the Jackson family who have yet to confirm their plans for the 50-year-old’s funeral.
Jackson was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but before his death there were reports he had secretly converted to Islam. According to Muslim funeral custom the body is usually buried within days of the death.
Police and coroner’s officials are now examining the role prescription drugs may have played in Jackson’s death as it was reported that he was injected with the powerful painkiller Demerol shortly before he fell ill.
Entertainment news website TMZ reported that the singer received the shot at 11.30am the day of his death and The Sun said he was taking a cocktail of painkillers and other drugs.
Jackson was taking Dilaudid and Vicodin for problems with pain, Soma, a muscle relaxant, Xanax, a sedative, Zoloft and Paxil, anti-depressants and Prilosec for heartburn, said the newspaper.
Officers now want to speak to Dr Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who practices in California, Nevada and Texas. He will now be questioned further by detectives and his car was seized from outside Jackson’s house in case it contained drugs or other evidence.
Charlie Beck, assistant police chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, said it was “way too early” to draw any conclusions about the singer’s death.
He said officers spoke to Dr Murray immediately after Jackson’s death but now wanted to carry out “an extensive follow-up interview”.
Source Link – http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8579935
