Prince death investigated as possible overdose by police

Police are investigating whether a doctor was prescribing drugs for the singer before his death
Investigation: Prince was found with medication when he died
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
David Gardner29 April 2016
The Weekender

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US police are investigating whether a doctor was prescribing drugs for Prince in the days before he died from a possible overdose.

Although investigators are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests, the development suggests similarities to probes into the deaths of celebrities like Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

In Jackson’s case, his personal physician Conrad Murray was jailed for involuntary manslaughter for prescribing a powerful anaesthetic that contributed to the pop star’s 2009 death. Elvis’s doctor, George Nichopoulos, was acquitted of overprescribing drugs but was later stripped of his medical license.

A law enforcement official was reported last night by the Associated Press as saying that Prince’s alleged use of the powered painkiller Percocet was being examined.

Investigators are also looking at whether a doctor was with Prince, 57, on his private plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21.

No doctor has been named and there is no suggestion at this point that there was any illegal behaviour.

The ‘Purple Rain’ singer was found unconscious on the plane and was given a ‘save shot’ of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The injection was administered while the plane was on the tarmac and Prince spent several hours in hospital before flying home.

Police were said to be trying to determine what prescription drugs were on the plane and what were found in a search of his Paisley Park home and studio. Specifically, they will want to know the circumstances in which they were prescribed.

A second unnamed investigator said yesterday that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince’s home.

Prince - In pictures

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The search warrant for Prince’s (pounds) 6 million compound - carried out the day of his death - was filed yesterday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were made public.

An affidavit in support of sealing the warrant, signed by Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause ‘the search or related searches to be unsuccessful’ and risk injury to innocent people.

Prince’s death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn’t feeling well.

Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has claimed that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels.

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