TMZ is reporting that sources in the LAPD that confirm that Michael Jackson’s death is being treated as a homicide. They’re honing in on Dr. Conrad Murray, who is thought to have administered the dangerous anesthesia drug propofol to Jackson at home. Although final toxicology reports are not yet back, it’s been reported that a perhaps overdose of propofol led to the pop star’s sudden death.
Multiple law enforcement sources tell TMZ the LAPD is already treating Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide, and they are focusing on Dr. Conrad Murray.
Law enforcement sources tell us the evidence points to the anesthesia Propofol as the primary cause of Jackson’s death. As we first reported, vials of Propofol were found in Jackson’s home after he died.
Law enforcement sources say there is already “plenty of powerful evidence” linking Dr. Murray as the person who administered the drug to Jackson. The evidence includes various items found in Jackson’s house, including the Propofol, an IV stand and oxygen tank.
Dr. Murray’s lawyer would neither confirm nor deny if his client administered the Propofol.
And we’ve learned the LAPD has had “multiple conversations” with the L.A. County District Attorney’s office, although the case has not been formally presented to the D.A.
[From TMZ]
If the case does end up being presented to the D.A., and they decide to pursue it – is Dr. Murray going to plead out or will this case go to trial? If it does go as far as a trial, it’s going to be a circus like everything else surrounding Jackson’s death. Jackson begged for this specific drug, according to a nurse who treated him. A doctor who spoke anonymously told TMZ that Jackson sought prescription painkillers, and several of Jackson’s staffers have said that he regularly took way too many drugs and tried to get prescriptions in their names. Along with doctor shopping, Jackson also reportedly sought out dentists in order to score anesthesia drugs.
He obviously found someone who was willing to administer propofol to him at home despite the extreme risk. Authorities are going to want to hold this doctor and whoever supplied the drug responsible. Even if Dr. Murray was just following Jackson’s orders, this is a drug that never should have been given at home. Abuse of propofol is thought to be rare, but according to Wikipedia, users can quickly develop a tolerance to it, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest: “The steep dose response curve of the drug makes such abuse very dangerous without proper monitoring, and several deaths have been recorded.” This was an “accident” that never should have happened.
Photos are of Michael at the 2006 World Music Awards. Credit: PRPhotos
I am just curious. Would this much fuss be made over our troops? I am not faulting the family for wanting to know or anyone who wants to mourn but really people…. Do our American troops get a quarter of the respect this man has gotten? Sad really
AJ, I don’t know that Michael Jackson gets all that much respect. It’s more of a curiosity factor, I think, and the fact that he’s played a role in people’s lives, so they feel like they know him. I think the troops are seen as an abstract and not as individuals – we don’t even know their names until we see them in a death announcement.
I’m not surprised that Dr. Conrad Murray is under suspicion. He acted strangely as Jackson was dying, delaying calling emergency services, performing CPR on a bed. And he’s a doctor who had to move from state to state because of financial troubles.
Quite possibly a man who would be willing to bend any code of ethics to give Michael Jackson what he wanted.
Even if Jackson sought out drugs, Dr. Murray should still face manslaughter charges. If you beg me to shoot you and I do, my *** is still on its way to jail.
Yes, he should definitely be charged with manslaughter. Maybe this will stop other doctors from pandering to celebrity clients and their drug addictions.
No kidding, Alaskajoey! I am so tired of doctors doing this to people. Unfortunately, doctor shopping looks like it’s rampant.
Switching subjects — I wonder what caused MJ’s fingernails to be such an odd color. Is it a sign of lupus or the lung disease? Does anybody know?
A fungal infection, but I’m not his physician, that’s just an educated guess.
Also a very poor diet would do that as well.
Regarding his nailbed color, I’ve read somewhere that the skin bleaching MJ used (perhaps to even out vitiligo, if he had it) did not penetrate under the nails, leaving the nailbeds his natural skin color.
It reminds me of when I dyed my hair black as a teenager and didn’t use the gloves.
So sad when such a powerful person can’t even be nourished to a basic degree.
Good thing they sealed the scene then. For crying out loud it’s a bit late now. How they expect not to be challenged in court over scene contamination is beyond me. Makes for good copy though.
Pros: It’ll shed more light on these “doctors” who are absolute disgraces to their profession.
Cons: Will shed light on another shoddy start to an investigation by the LAPD.
~
Here’s another con:
Now we’ll get LaToya and Joe running around saying ‘I told you so!’
Lee, you’re right–his nailbeds are the color they always were.
I’m glad they’re treating this as a homicide; it’s about time that these shyster doctors face the music!
okay,the dr. was starstruck;he had that letter to his patients that he had gotten an incredible opportunity and was closing his practice temporarily.
AEG did not want a dr. on staff expense-wise. MJ insisted,saying he and conrad had ‘a rapport’.
It’s obvious that MJ had an addiction to begin with,and his body was definitely weakened from years of abuse-
Now,you have dr. starstruck doing something illegal and unsavory,but for the sheer purpose of being part of MJ’s entourage and feeling ‘important’ at some level.
I bet he didn’t call 911 right away b/c he did not want to believe this was happening,and yea,he realized that he was to blame for administering something that he knew was a potential cardiac risk.
I also think MJ was prob gone pretty quickly,and CPR was not going to help,and the Doc knew it. just my opinion.
negligence,but not manslaughter,is what he should be charged with.
i love how la toya was quoted that ‘he’s worth more dead to them [the conspirators she claims killed him] than alive.
UM,how????
he’s worth more dead to the jackson family,and especially Joe,now that they get their hands on all the goods/money related to MJ.
i think it is absurd and a tragedy that they will make a spectacle of his death by calling it a homocide.
should be medical negligence,which is very serious and he should be liable,but not the same as murder.
c’mon.
talk about sensationalism.
AJ, Michael Jackson gets this kind of attention because he was known by every person in every country across the world. He was also a humanitarian that did many wonderful things for people. He saved many lives by his donations and gave staggering amounts of money to charities. He was a person of the highest kind of profile next to Presidents and Royal families. So, no, I don’t expect the media to report the events of every single Jim Bob in a pointless war. What are our troops even doing over there? Bring them home already!
Irm, I also want to point out that when LaToya made that statement- that yes, it seems sensational-I agree but what she was referring to was the catalogue of music that he owned that now will be up for sell (like the entire Beatles catalogue) a lot of people wanted the rights to the music he owned. I’m not saying she’s right, but that is the statement she was making when she said “he’s worth more dead than alive”
Kikker, that’s a pretty appalling thing to say. First of all, those “Jim Bobs” didn’t choose their war – many of them are joined the military for the economic or educational opportunities they couldn’t get anywhere else. Please direct your anger at George Bush or Barack Obama, who is ramping up the war in Afghanistan as we speak.
Secondly, Michael Jackson was able to go from very humble beginnings to the level of “presidents and royalty” because he lived in a relatively free society.
Try making a smart-ass comment like yours in Iran or China, and see how long it is before you get a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
I believe his doctors and friends assisted MJ in getting the drugs he wanted, HOWEVER drug addicts die everyday. Does a rich drug addict deserve more sympathy and respect than a poor drug addict? Also his family knew he needed help, but he was their “Golden Ticket” they are just as much to blame as the doctors especially since they knew where he was getting the drugs.
I hate the way his family is pointing fingers at everyone else and they sat there and watched his downfall. With family like that I’d rather be alone.
Treating it like a homicide before or after they allowed MJs family and friends go back into the house and bring a semi-truck to move stuff out of the house?
@ kikker – Why would his entire music catalogue be up for sale just because he has died?
Generally estates retain the rights for future earnings for the families. I may be wrong, but I don’t believe anybody has announced the catalogue will be sold. There may be other ways it can pay off its debts. MJ’s estate owns a lot more than just his own songs.
CandyKay- My frustration is totally directed towards the Bush administration regarding the war issue. Just because I used the term “Jim Bob” does not mean I don’t care about our troops. Maybe you would have been more comfortable with “John Doe?” I fully understand that they did not choose to go to war by their own freewill-and I don’t live in Iran or China nor have any wish to visit so I will say whatever I wish.
Regarding Michael Jackson, he was able claw his way up from meager beginnings but he ended with a royal status. THAT is the point I am making (which you have clearly missed and turned into a political flag waving 180)
GG- I am not saying that his catalogue will be up for sale because he died but that’s what his sister, LaToya was referring to when she made that comment- his music catalogue.
“Even if Dr. Murray was just following Jackson’s orders, this is a drug that never should have been given at home.”…are you kidding? a patient, no matter who he/she is doesn’t give “orders” – irresponsible commentary. while we can all acknowledge that “stars” have influence, a health care provider by education, assignment and comittment has sworn to do no harm, above and beyond all other interests.
Yeah MJ was extremely famous even my two year old knows hin and his songs.