Peaches Geldof cause of death: Toxicology tests reveal recent use of heroin

A criminal inquiry has been launched by British police after it emerged that heroin was likely to have played a part in the death of Peaches Geldof.

Kent police said there was an “ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs” in connection with her death.

Peaches Geldof, 25, was found dead on April 7 by her husband, Thomas Cohen, in a spare bedroom in their home.

Toxicology tests showed Peaches Geldof had heroin in her system, an inquest heard on Thursday.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, told the hearing: “Recent use of heroin and the levels identified were likely to have played a role in her death.”

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police can confirm an ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs in connection with the death of Peaches Geldof.

“There have been no arrests at this stage.”

Peaches Geldof’s mother, TV presenter and writer Paula Yates, died from a heroin overdose at her London home, aged 41, in 2000.

At the inquest, Paul Fotheringham described how Peaches Geldof’s husband had tried to make contact with his wife before he found her body.

Thomas Cohen, a musician, had been away for the weekend with the elder of their two sons, Astala, leaving Peaches Geldof at home with their 11-month old son, Phaedra.

This was their normal weekend arrangement, Paul Fotheringham explained, allowing Peaches Geldof to concentrate on her work as a columnist.

“It is believed that Peaches spent Saturday afternoon, into the evening, and Sunday morning at her home address alone,” Paul Fotheringham told the inquest.

“Throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with family and friends, including contact with Thomas’s mother to arrange a family activity, but this was cancelled.

“All of the friends and family who had contact with Peaches during this period described how she seemed her normal self and was making plans for the future, including a family outing for her sons for the following weekend,” he continued.

“There was no cause for concern.”

However, on Monday morning, 7 April, Peaches Geldof’s husband tried to contact her without success. He then travelled to the family home in Wrotham, Kent with his mother, Sue, and son Astala arriving at around 13:30 BST.

“Thomas entered the property and located Peaches in the spare bedroom,” Paul Fotheringham said.

Peaches Geldof was slumped across the bed “with one leg hanging down to the floor and the other leg tucked underneath her,” he added. It was apparent she was dead.

Police and paramedics were called and Peaches Geldof was pronounced dead at the scene.

An initial post-mortem did not establish a cause of death and further toxicology tests were ordered. Those tests confirmed the recent use of heroin, it was disclosed on Thursday.

None of the Geldof family attended the hearing, which opened and adjourned within 10 minutes. Coroner Roger Hatch adjourned the inquest for a full hearing to take place on July 23, 2014.

Peaches Geldof had spoken openly about her struggle to deal with her mother’s death – and of experimenting with drugs in her teenage years – but had cited motherhood as a central part of her “healing” process.

Following Astala’s birth in 2012, “everything started to heal”, Peaches Geldof told Elle magazine.

“Even if it’s an archaic idea, I want Astala to have a mummy and daddy together forever,” Peaches Geldof said at the time.