Los Angeles County Coroner Rules Michael Jackson’s Death a Homicide

By Sarah Harper

Published on September 03, 2009

The Los Angeles County coroner released a report Friday ruling Michael Jackson's death a homicide involving a combination of prescription drugs. The ruling underscores the potential culpability of Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who administered the drugs. Murray is already the subject of a criminal investigation.

The coroner found propofol (an anesthetic) and lorazepam (an anti-anxiety drug) to be the drugs primarily responsible for Jackson's death. The coroner also detected midazolam (a sedative) and diazepam (an anti-anxiety drug), lidocaine (an anesthetic), and ephedrine in Jackson's system.

Reportedly, Murray had been using these drugs to treat Jackson's insomnia for six weeks prior to Jackson's death. The day Jackson died, Murray administered the drugs (at Jackson's request). Jackson died approximately 20 minutes after the last medication was given.

The Los Angeles County Police Department (LAPD) (and, independently, federal and state agencies) is continuing the criminal investigation into Jackson's death. Critics question why the coroner's report was released before the police investigation was complete. Some critics believe the report contained no new information.

After Jackson's June 25 death, authorities sought to resolve a number of issues, including the cause of Jackson's death, his estate, and the custody of his three children.

Comment on this article →