Results tagged “coroner”

Although it was all but official until now, today the Los Angeles County coroner's office "confirmed that it has ruled Michael Jackson's death to be a homicide, caused primarily by 'propofol intoxication,'" reports KNX1070 in a breaking news e-mail alert. The LAPD, the lead agency into the death, also announced this morning that separate investigations will occur into matters uncovered in the death investigation, but do not directly relate to the cause of Jackson's death. Those most likely are the various drugs, prescription included, found at his home and in his body. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement will be looking into those aspects. The LAPD's press release is below in full.

The Los Angeles County Coroner announced today that their "thorough and comprehensive" investigation into the death of Michael Jackson has been completed. However, the LAPD has requested the information remain confidential as their investigation continues. "The extension of security measures will help maintain the integrity of the investigation and allow investigators from LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division, as well as our partner law enforcement agencies to continue their investigation," they explained in a statement. Further questions about the investigation will not be answered. As for Jackson's body, his family is still deciding where to bury him.

Following the autopsy conducted amid massive media buzz yesterday, the LA County Coroner's office has turned the body of Michael Jackson to his family, who are working to finalize plans for the star's funeral, according to LA Now. "Los Angeles Police Department sources said officials have been talking to the Jackson family about plans for a memorial, which is likely to take place in the L.A. area. The LAPD is involved in the planning because it's likely to be mobbed by fans." The coroner has yet to determine and official cause of death, but were able to conclude and announce yesterday that there was no evidence of foul play or "exterior trauma." Toxicology reports will take several weeks; Jackson's body is currently being held at an undisclosed mortuary.

The LA County Coroner's office today announced the completion of Michael Jackson's autopsy, but a cause of death could not be determined until more tests are done. Toxicology and other tests could take four to six weeks, they said.

The LA County Coroner's office told a group of reporters at 1:30 p.m. that they have "no confirmed swine flu cases at this time." Two recent deaths were reported this morning as possibly related to the disease. After test results, the Coroner's Office said one of the deaths is definitely not swine flu and the other one is inconclusive at this time. However, at a public meeting with the LA County Board of Supervisors, County Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding says to expect Swine Flu in LA County. He recommends that you wash your hands often. So far, there have been no deaths in the United States.

Yesterday morning at around 11:30, a pedestrian told the California Highway Patrol they had found a dead body off "the ramps at the southwest corner of the Wilshire Boulevard interchange, within sight of the Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Medical Center," according to abc7.com. Initial reports "indicated that the man may have recently been released from a hospital," although there has been no confirmation of that as of yet. The man appears to be in his 60s. The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County coroner's office and the CHP.

The L.A. County Coroner has identified six of the nine badly burned bodies found inside the Covina home that was terrorized by "Santa Shooter" Bruce Pardo on Christmas Eve. According to abc7.com , the casualties were attributed to the shootings as well as the torching of the house. So far, the Coroner's office has determined:

Joseph Ortega, 80, of Covina, died from multiple gunshot wounds, and 70-year-old Alicia Ortega was shot in the abdomen. Also killed was Teresa Ortega, 51, who was shot in the leg but died from burns and smoke inhalation. Multiple injuries, including burns, gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation, were cited in the deaths of three others: Alicia Ortiz, 46, of Upland; Charles Ortega, 50, of West Covina and his wife, Cheri, 45.

Currently three more bodies remain unidentified--a process that is taking a great deal of time due to how badly damaged they were in the crime. Pardo's body was found the following morning at his brother's Sylmar home; his Santa suit was melted to his body and he had a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police later learned he had plans to continue his killing spree, but stopped short and committed suicide.

Andre Young Jr, the 20-year-old son of rap icon Dr. Dre, was found dead in the family's Woodland Hills home this past August. He'd been out with friends the night before, but was unresponsive when his mother, Jenita Porter, tried to rouse him that morning, and was pronounced dead by paramedics. According to People, The Los Angeles County Coroner announced yesterday after months of waiting for the toxicology report that the cause of Young's death was "from an overdose of heroin and morphine," and that the case was both closed and ruled as accidental.

The Covina Police will hold a special community meeting at 7:00 tonight to discuss the Christmas Eve "Santa Massacre" that took place there on Knollcrest Drive. The unprecedented violence of the crime has left many neighbors and friends of the deceased in shock, and has also surprised those who knew the gunman, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo. Various reports reveal that Pardo was a kind man who did not hint at marital troubles or the desire to cause harm, and that he served as an usher at the Holy Redeemer Church in his home community of Montrose. Accodring to the Press-Telegram, "Coroner's investigators are working to positively identify the remains via dental records, since the bodies were burned." A total of 9 people were killed in the shooting, and Pardo committed suicide following his rampage. On Friday night, the police released the 911 call from the shooting.

The LA County Coroner's Office has released a partial list of the victim's names from Friday's train collision between a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train. It does not include Robert Sanchez, the speculated engineer, or Paul Long who later died at a hospital.

A group of around 25 firefighters arrived to a single family home in the Westside neighborhood of Mar Vista near shortly after 5:30 a.m. this morning knocking down the fire in 20 minutes. Upon investigation inside, they found a deceased woman, estimated to be 37 years old, inside the home at 3448 Colonial Ave. near the intersection of Centinela Ave. and Palms Blvd. Arson Investigators, LAPD and the Coronor's office will all be investigating to see if any foul play was involved in the incident.