Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
St. Louis Arts and Entertainment Celebrity News Examiner
Celebrity News Examiner

Cocaine use contributed to Billy Mays' death, autopsy says

August 7, 11:43 PMCelebrity News ExaminerLiz Barrett
Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the Celebrity News Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use


Cocaine use may have contributed to Billy Mays, death. (AP)

Autopsy results show that cocaine use caused or contributed to the heart disease that killed Billy Mays on June 28, according to the Associated Press. The Hillsborough County medical examiner ruled that heart disease was the primary cause and cocaine was a "contributory cause of death." 

The medical examiner's office said in a statement:

... cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death."

The autopsy toxicology report indicated that Mays had used cocaine within a few days of his death, but wasn't under the influence when he died.

Mays' family objected to the findings and to the report being released:

We were totally unaware of any non-prescription drug usage and are actively considering an independent evaluation of the autopsy results. ...

[The autopsy report] contains speculative conclusions that are frankly unnecessary and tend to obscure the conclusion that Billy suffered from chronic, untreated hypertension, which only demonstrates how important it is to regularly monitor one's health."

Mays also was taking "therapeutic amounts" of hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), tramadol (Ultram), alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium). He had serious hip problems and was supposed to have hip replacement surgery on June 29.

 

 

RELATED STORIES: 

More About: Billy Mays

Add a Comment

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Vancouver 2010
Get exclusive coverage from Examiners on the Winter Games in Vancouver.
2010 Valentine Guide
Single, married or something in between? Find what you need for Valentine's Day.

Recent Articles

Saturday, February 6, 2010
The NFL Network yanked former football star and "Dancing With the Stars" finalist Warren Sapp from its Super Bowl show after he was arrested …
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office is now saying that Conrad Murray will be charged on Monday with involuntary manslaughter for administering …

Green Gossip

Tabloid Addiction