Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Heiress Casey Johnson Found Dead
Casey Johnson, a 30-year-old heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, was found dead today in her home in Los Angeles, according to KTLA. The socialite was known for making headlines for outrageous and often illegal activities, and just last month had announced her engagement to reality TV star Tila Tequila. Tequila remarked today on her Twitter account: "This is a very heartbreaking time for me. I just want some pricacy as I deal with the loss of my Fiance Casey Johnson. I'm heart is shredded." As recently as this evening as Tequila reported Johnson was in a coma, however media outlets and Tequila herselfsoon confirmed Johnson has died.
Published reports conflict with Tequila's Twittering, however, noting: "Police were called there after 11 a.m., and Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene," and "that a neighbor heard a maid come out of Johnson's home earlier today and screamed 'She's dead!'"
In previous years Johnson drew attention for her work for on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as well as for adopting a a daughter, Ava, from Kazakhstan in 2007.