Crime & Safety
Coroner: Whitney Houston Drowned in Hot Water, Death Ruled Accidental
Houston is believed to have suffered severe burns and to have been submerged for an hour before being discovered by an assistant with severe burns. Heart disease and cocaine also contributed to the singer's death.
Singer Whitney Houston's death has been ruled an accident, after an autopsy determined the 48-year-old singer drowned face down in hot water in a .
Heart disease and cocaine use also contributed to the Grammy winner's death, according to the final autopsy report. A spoon with a "white crystal-like substance" and remnants of a "white powdery substance" were found in the Beverly Hills hotel room where singer Whitney Houston died, according to a coroner's report issued Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Times reports that an expert says the amount of coke was not at a toxic level.
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Read the full Los Angeles Times story here.
Lt. Mark Rosen, a spokesman for the Beverly Hills Police Department, told the Los Angeles Times that the department's investigation had been on hold pending release of the final coroner's report. "We can't finalize the case until we see what's in the report," Rosen told The Times. "We have to review the document and we will take the appropriate course of action based on the coroner's findings."
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According to the coroner's office report released today, an ashtray with multiple cigarette butts was found on the bathroom counter of Houston's hotel room. In addition, the report stated:
"Located on the south portion of the counter was a small spoon with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper.... Located on the north portion of the counter was a bottle of prescription medications, and a ripped open small plastic bag....
"Located in the top drawer, in the north side of the counter were remnants of a white powdery substance, and a portable mirror on a base," the report stated. "On the bottom of that base were more remnants of a white powdery substance."
The bathtub had 12 to 13 inches of water in it, and the bathroom floor was covered with water, according to the report, which also notes that a "plethora" of prescription medication bottles was also collected in the hotel room.
— City News Service contributed to this report.
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