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Yesterday afternoon, music superstar Whitney Houstonwas found dead in her hotel suite at the Beverly Hilton. Her body was removed from the hotel to the morgue for an autopsy, but Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said, "There were no obvious signs of criminal intent," though it's unclear whether she died of natural causes.
Houston had been expected to perform at music impresario Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party at the Hilton last night, but at 3:30 p.m., the 48-year-old was found unresponsive—according to TMZ, she was in the bathtub. Paramedics performed CPR and pronounced her dead at 3:55 p.m. Her body wasn't removed from the hotel room until early this morning.
TMZ also reports, "No illegal drugs have been found in the hotel room where Whitney Houston died -- at least not yet -- but prescription drugs were present, and it's possible the singer drowned in the bathtub... Informed sources tell us ... Beverly Hills cops -- who were still searching the room at the time this story was posted -- found various pill bottles. There was no evidence that Whitney was drinking alcohol in the room."
It's expected the autopsy will be performed today or tomorrow.
UPDATE: Now TMZ reports that Xanax was found in Houston's suite: "Whitney Houston was taking Xanax ... evidence she may have fallen asleep in the bathtub where she died ... TMZ has learned. Family members of Whitney tell us the singer had a prescription for the drug, which is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. "
