Whitney Houston Died of Prescription Drug, Alcohol Combo, TMZ Reports
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Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) — Whitney Houston probably died from a combination of the drug Xanax and other prescription medications mixed with alcohol, TMZ reports, citing family sources who were briefed by L.A. County Coroner officials.
Coroners informed Houston’s family that there was not enough water in the 48-year-old singer’s lungs for her to have drowned, and that she may have died before her head became submerged in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where her body was found Saturday, according to TMZ.
The website also reports it was Houston’s aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered the body in the bathtub. TMZ quotes sources as saying Jones had placed a dress Houston was wearing that evening on a bed and left the room for a half hour. When she returned and Houston didn’t come out of the bathroom, Jones went in and pulled the singer out of the tub and started CPR.
Houston’s mother has arranged for her body to be flown back to Atlanta as early as Tuesday, TMZ says. Her family was reportedly told that since there is no suspicion of foul play, police have not put a hold on the body, and it may be transported.
Investigators looking into the death of Houston have said that they will be examining the pop icon’s behavior in the hours and days before she was found dead in the bathtub. The singer’s family, friends and staff have already been questioned.
The Los Angeles Coroner said Sunday that toxicology reports on Houston will not be available for six to eight weeks, but a family member confirmed that Houston’s family, along with those working for her, have been questioned about any health issues she may have had and her behavior before her death.
Houston was staying at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she was to attend music industry executive Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party. It is the same event where she was introduced to the record industry and the world nearly three decades ago.
Meanwhile, TMZ reports Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, who was staying in the hotel with her mother, had also fallen asleep in the bathtub the night before her mother’s death in another room. Friends of the 18-year-old tried knocking on her door repeatedly and eventually had to contact security to open the door to her room so she could be removed from the tub.
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