Icon Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning in her Beverly Hilton hotel bathtub last month. In an initial autopsy report released on Thursday, the Los Angeles County coroner said that the “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use” were contributing factors in her death. Houston, 48, was “found submerged in bathtub filled with water” and “no trauma or foul play is suspected.” Chief Coroner Craig Harvey reported that Houston’s use of cocaine appeared to have occurred “in the time period just immediately prior to her collapse in the bathtub at the hotel.” Her arteries narrowed by 60 percent, suggesting a cardiac event, and was complicated by the use of cocaine, which then led to Houston’s slipping underwater.
“Something happened that caused her to go down and we know that when she slipped under the water she was still alive. We have evidence of drowning since there was water in the lungs,” Harvey said. The toxicology tests performed on Houston also revealed other drugs in her body, including marijuana, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril, and the allergy medicine Benadryl, according to reports. However, these drugs “did not contribute to the death,” the reports said. The songstress’ family was informed on the cause of death before the public and issued a statement through the family spokeswoman. Patricia Houston, the singer’s former manager and sister-in-law, said, “We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure.”
On February 11, Houston’s lifeless body was found submerged in her hotel bathtub, just a few hours before she was to appear at a pre-Grammy party at the hotel. Known as one of the greatest singers of all time, Houston won six Grammys and sold 170 million albums, singles, and videos. Unfortunately, her accomplishments were overshadowed by her battle with drug addiction.
