On Monday morning, Broward County Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper and Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger finally revealed what killed Anna Nicole Smith on February 8th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Anna Nicole, the former Playboy Playmate and TrimSpa model, died six weeks ago in her hotel room, setting off a media frenzy and a bitterly-contested paternity battle over her 6-month old daughter, Dannielynn. While the results of Dr. Perper's autopsy have been ready for some time, those results were made public only today, as the medical examiner announced Anna Nicole Smith had died from an accidental drug overdose.
Broward County Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that Anna Nicole Smith died of "combined drug intoxication," citing the sleeping medication chloral hydrate as the major factor in Smith's death. The report given by Perper indicated Anna Nicole Smith was on a lengthy list of medications, which included methadone, a drug Anna Nicole had been using as a painkiller. As for the chloral hydrate, the AP describes it as a sedative used to treat cases of insomnia and alcohol withdrawal, as well as its use to relieve anxiety and ease post-surgery pain. Dr. Perper also noted that Anna Nicole Smith had been on a collection of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs before her death on February 8.
E Online quoted Dr. Perper, who said that while Anna Nicole Smith had several drugs in her system, they were all contained to therapeutic levels. However, Dr. Perper said that, "It was only when we had the chloral hydrate that we were able to put the picture together and realize that the chloral hydrate, in combination with the other therapeutic levels [of medications] resulted, unfortunately, in her death."
Some had speculated that Joshua Perper's autopsy results were being held back while the Seminole Police continued their investigation into the hotel where Anna Nicole Smith was discovered unconscious and unresponsive. However, in a press conference today, Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said that, "We are convinced, based on an extensive view of the evidence, that this case is an accidental overdose with no other criminal elements present." Tiger went on to say in no uncertain terms that, "We found nothing to indicate any foul play." Dr. Perper noted that the detailed autopsy showed no signs of disease in Anna Nicole Smith, though reports indicated she was suffering from a stomach flu before she died.
After his initial examination, Dr. Joshua Perper did say that there were no serious injuries on the body of Anna Nicole Smith. Perper said that prescription drugs were found in Smith's hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, but did not find any evidence of illegal drugs in Anna Nicole's room. Joshua Perper confirmed today that there was absolutely no evidence of illegal drugs in Anna Nicole Smith's system, though he felt confident enough to give a detailed account of the events leading to the former Playboy Playmate's death, including her temperature at various times as well as the medication she took.
With Anna Nicole Smith's sudden death coming just five months after the sudden and tragic death of her 20-year-old son, Daniel Smith, who passed away in the Bahamas just three days after Anna Nicole Smith gave birth to her infant daughter, Dannielynn, there has been speculation about possible criminal activity surrounding the death of the topless dancer-turned-billionaire's wife. An independent autopsy performed by Dr. Cyril Wecht found that Daniel Smith had died as a result of the interaction of methadone with the antidepressants Zoloft and Lexapro. With the Anna Nicole Smith autopsy results having been made public, an inquest into the death on Daniel Smith is due to proceed in the Bahamas on Tuesday.
The autopsy results have been ready for some time, though Perper would not release the results until two new pieces of evidence were considered. That evidence turned out to be two laptop computers belonging to Anna Nicole Smith and Howard K. Stern. While neither computer turned up anything suspicious, they did illustrate Anna Nicole Smith's positive state of mind, allowing investigators to rule out the possibility of suicide.
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