The producer of two U.S. reality television shows, “The Amazing Race” and “Whale Wars,” died from a drug overdose, reported by Uganda investigators on Thursday. Speculations of poisonous local drugs were dismissed by Uganda Police Force spokesman Assuman Mugenyi in the death of the producer, Jeff Rice. Mugenyi called the news “speculative and inappropriate reporting.” According to a police report released on Thursday, Rice was found late last week on his hotel balcony, sitting at a table with his head down, blood coming from his nose and mouth.
Investigators found a “whitish powder in a plastic bag” in his room which contained “opiates” that are associated with cocaine. Police also reported a “principal metabolite of cocaine” was found in urine and blood taken from Rice’s body during an autopsy. Katheryne Fuller, Rice’s assistant, was found next to him on the floor unconscious. Investigators await her recovery to recount the incident. Rice is succeeded by his wife and two daughters who are ages 2 and 7.
