With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Michael Jackson reportedly died of lethal propofol injection
Listen
1:11
Michael Jackson reportedly died of lethal propofol injection
Michael Jackson reportedly died of lethal propofol injection
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that records show Michael Jackson died of lethal levels of a powerful anesthetic. KPCC’s Frank Stoltze has more.
The paper reports that a search warrant unsealed in Houston shows the L.A County coroner found lethal levels of propofol in Jackson’s body.
Doctor Conrad Murray has acknowledged giving Jackson the powerful anesthetic for insomnia. The latest court records say Murray told police he’d worried that Jackson was forming an addiction and gave him valium, lorazepam, and midazolam instead.
Murray reportedly told police that when none of the drugs worked on the morning Jackson died, the pop star demanded propofol. The doctor administered it using an intravenous line at 10:40 a.m., and left Jackson’s room to make phone calls.
Sponsored message
When he came back, Jackson was not breathing. LAPD investigators are looking at whether Murray was negligent in administering propofol as a sleep aid outside a hospital setting, and whether he can be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
