Michael Jackson Investigation Focuses on Personal Doctor

Michael Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray is reportedly at the center of the LAPD and coroner’s office investigations into whether the star’s sudden cardiac arrest was the result of prescription drug use, TMZ reports. Sources tell TMZ that despite giving two interviews to authorities, Murray is still not fully cooperating with law enforcement officials. Based on one of the Murray interviews, investigators conducted another search of Jackson’s home, this time finding the intravenous sedative Propofol, an anesthesia that isn’t supposed to be administered outside of a hospital, TMZ writes.

Rock Daily reported last week that Los Angeles police chief William Bratton said investigators are awaiting the results of the toxicology report before determining “Are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with accidental overdose?” Sources tell TMZ that there is evidence that Murray administered Propofol to Jackson before the singer’s death. If it’s discovered that Propofol was responsible for killing the singer, Murray might face manslaughter charges. Murray had previously hired lawyers to attend his meetings with police in the days following Jackson’s death. Murray admitted to waiting nearly a half-hour before calling 911 after discovering Jackson with a faint pulse in his Los Angeles bedroom.

Nurse/nutritionist Cherilyn Lee who treated Jackson said the singer was “adamant” about receiving Diprivan, which is the brand name for Propofol, Rolling Stone reported in the days following his death. An overdose of the sedative could cause someone to stop breathing, which leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide buildup in the body that could result in cardiac arrest. Jackson’s initial autopsies revealed no defects with the singer’s heart, so the cause of death will likely be revealed when the Los Angeles Coroners receives the results of a toxicology report.

Jackson’s alleged prescription drug use has come under the microscope in recent weeks as the LAPD and the DEA seek out the enabling doctors who made it possible for Jackson to consume “30 to 40 Xanax pills a night,” as one former Jackson security guard told law enforcement officials in 2004. Jackson’s drug use reportedly escalated to the point that sister Janet Jackson attempted — but ultimately failed — to stage an intervention in 2007.