Philip Seymour Hoffman Had Dozens of Bags of Heroin: Police
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James Devaney/WireImage(NEW YORK) — Philip Seymour Hoffman was found with five empty heroin bags and as many as 65 more bags that were still unused, police told ABC News.
Police investigating Hoffman’s death, apparently from a drug overdose, had earlier said they found 50 bags of the narcotic, but later sharply increased that figure. They also found used syringes, including one needle that was sticking out of Hoffman’s arm when his body was discovered Sunday in his Greenwich Village apartment.
Detectives are using the stamps on the bags and checking with nearby jurisdictions to track the origins of the heroin. They are also trying to determine the purity of the heroin and whether there were any additives. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that Hoffman’s May detox stint would have affected his tolerance for the drug.
Hoffman, 46, was found unconscious at around 11:15 a.m. Sunday on the bathroom floor of his apartment by friend and screenwriter David Bar Katz, who called 911. Hoffman was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was supposed to pick up his three children Sunday, but never showed.
He was last seen at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Broadway theaters will dim their marquees for one minute at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday in Hoffman’s memory.
The cause of death has not yet been determined. The New York City Police Department is continuing to investigate.
Hoffman’s family released a statement following his death.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone,” the statement reads. “This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.”
Hoffman is survived by his girlfriend, costume designer Mimi O’Donnell, their son, Cooper, 10 and two daughters, Tallulah, 7, and Willa, 5.
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