Sage Stallone, son of actor Sylvester Stallone, died from natural causes due to a heart condition, the Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled.
Sage Stallone was found dead at his Hollywood home by an employee and a relative on 13 July.
Bottles of prescription pills were found but it was not clear if they were connected with his death.
Officials said on Thursday that the 36-year-old died due to a condition that causes blockage of the arteries.
Sage Stallone, son of actor Sylvester Stallone, died from natural causes due to a heart condition, the Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled
Toxicology results showed Sage Stallone had only a small amount of the sedative hydrocodone in his body.
No other drugs were detected and the death has been classified a natural death.
The actor and film director’s sudden death stunned his family and friends.
Sylvester Stallone’s publicist described him as “devastated and grief-stricken” and the actor skipped several promotional events for his film The Expendables 2.
Sage Moonblood Stallone was the oldest of Sylvester Stallone’s children and co-starred with his father in two films, Rocky V and Daylight.
He also became involved in movie-making, directing a 2006 short, Vic, that was screened at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
In 1996, Sage Stallone co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, a company dedicated to preserving and promoting the B-movies and exploitation films of the 1970s and ’80s.
Sylvester Stallone’s spokeswoman said the actor had no comment about the coroner’s findings.
Sage Stallone’s body laid undiscovered for at least three to four days before being found Friday in his Los Angeles home, according to new reports.
Coroner’s officials are still investigating the death of Sage Stallone who is understood to have overdosed on prescription pills found at the scene.
According to TMZ, the 36-year-old filmmaker “lived like Howard Hughes” in a room “littered with junk” – and his body could have laid cold for as long as a week.
A source told TMZ Sage Stallone was living like a recluse at his Studio City home, and had not spoken to his family for a week before his body was discovered.
Sage Stallone’s body laid undiscovered for at least three to four days before being found Friday in his Los Angeles home
A housekeeper who is believed to have been at the residence earlier in the week was reported to have been instructed never to enter his room, which a law enforcement source described as “disgusting” and foul-smelling.
Sage Stallone’s mother, Sasha Czack, is said to have called the housekeeper on Friday to check on him after she was unable to reach her son. That is when the body was discovered, according to TMZ.
A friend of Sage Stallone has meanwhile disputed reports Sylvester Stallone’ son committed suicide, saying he was “healthy and upbeat” just two weeks before his sudden death.
As coroner’s officials investigate if the death was accidental, a friend of the young filmmaker says he is baffled by the news because he “never knew him to do drugs”.
The friend, who was not identified by RadarOnline, told the website: “I saw him two weeks ago and he seemed great. He was healthy and upbeat and didn’t seem depressed at all.
“I never knew him to do drugs, not even weed, so for him to die from an overdose is kind of shocking to me. I am totally stunned.”
RadarOnline reports an autopsy will be performed as early as Sunday, however, toxicology tests will be needed to determine cause of death.
The results of such tests could take weeks.
Sylvester Stallone on Friday said he is “devastated” and “grief-stricken” over the death of his son.
A source told Radar that medics arrived on the scene at 3:05 p.m. Friday afternoon and spent around 25 minutes trying to revive Sage Stallone before his death was pronounced at the scene.
Pictures of the hotel room in which Whitney Houston died show remnants of her last meal – a hamburger, fries and a turkey sandwich – which she is said to have eaten in the bathroom right before she died.
The images also Whitney Houston was drinking champagne and beer shortly before her death and it is suggested the lethal combination of alcohol with prescription drug Xanax – which was also found at the scene – could have been the cause of her death.
A tray can be seen on the floor of the bathroom which is said to have contained the turkey sandwich and jalapenos. A Gilette razor, glass of water and items of clothing are also strewn on the floor.
Family sources told TMZ Whitney Houston ate the burger and fries in the hotel suite before taking the turkey sandwich and jalapenos into the bathroom where she planned on eating them after her bath.
It also emerged today that drugs Whitney Houston allegedly took in the hours before her death were bought at the same pharmacy Michael Jackson frequently used, sources say.
Whitney Houston’s body was found in a bathtub at her suite in the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel on Saturday, surrounded by different bottles of prescription pills including ibuprofen – a painkiller, Xanax – an anti-anxiety drug, Midol – for menstrual cramps, amoxicillin – for bacterial infections and several others.
TMZ reported that some of the prescriptions were filled out at the infamous Mickey Fine pharmacy, which was raided in 2009 by the DEA for evidence of “improper dispensing of controlled substances”, in connection with the death of Michael Jackson.
These reports have yet to be confirmed.
Whitney Houston ate the burger and fries in the hotel suite before taking the turkey sandwich and jalapenos into the bathroom where she planned on eating them after her bath
Mickey Fine’s is thought to have been the go-to pharmacy for both singers who are believed to have spent thousands of dollars there.
According to TMZ, Mickey Fine also sued Michael Jackson in 2007 for non-payment of a bill of more than $100,000.
Some of the prescriptions found in Whitney Houston’s hotel room were reportedly issued in 2011, but some were believed to have been more recent.
The amoxicillin was recently prescribed to the singer for a sore throat, sources told TMZ.
A tray can be seen on the floor of the hotel bathroom which is said to have contained a turkey sandwich and jalapenos, a Gilette razor, glass of water and items of clothing are also strewn on the floor
A coroner ruled today that it was impossible to ascertain the exact cause of the singer’s death but ruled out foul play.
A source close to the investigation said it was “from drugs and not from drowning”.
Police confirmed today that Whitney Houston’s body was found under water but that she may have died before being submersed.
A natural cause of death has not been ruled out either.
Los Angeles assistant chief coroner Ed Winter refused to go into details and said toxicology reports will not be available for several weeks, making it impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of death.
Ed Winter confirmed to ABC that officials found prescription bottles, but said there wasn’t anything “alarming” or “out of the ordinary” about them.
Though there were reports Whitney Houston had drowned, or overdosed, he said they won’t make a final determination until “all the tests are in”.
Ed Winter said: “I had a conversation with the family at the hotel and at no time did I discuss prescription meds or the drowning issue.
“I don’t know if the detectives discussed that with the family, but no, we have not released any information like that.”
Asked by reporters whether he ruled out drowning because there had not been enough water in the singer’s lungs, as was earlier reported, he said: “That did not come from us. It’s too early to say. The autopsy was done yesterday and there still is additional testing that is ongoing.
“You can look at a body and not know what the cause of death is. You might have a suspicion that person could have suffered a heart attack or something.
“No matter what medications they’re taking, until we run a (toxicology test) and see the level and what’s in the system, we’re not going to speculate.”
Law enforcement sources said it is possible Whitney Houston suffered a heart attack as a result of the cocktail of drugs she had taken.
Whitney Houston’s body was released to her family today.
The legendary singer’s funeral will be held in Newark, New Jersey, later this week, NBC New York reported, possibly on Friday.
Her body will be flown there later today and taken to Whigham Funeral Home.
Whitney Houston was born in Newark and raised in East Orange. She got her start as a singer in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
Mourners have been flocking to the church since her death, with local Shawn Cooper saying yesterday: “The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today.”
Whitney Houston may be buried alongside her father, army serviceman and entertainment executive John Houston, who died in 2003 and was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey.
Meanwhile Whitney Houston’s brother-in-law Billy Watson insisted that the star would never have taken her own life. He told ABC: “Oh, no, this is accidental. She wouldn’t have left her daughter like that. She wouldn’t have done that to her daughter.”
Billy Watson, whose sister is married to Whitney Houston’s brother, Gary, also confirmed the family was taking her body to New Jersey from California today.
Whitney Houston’s mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, issued the following statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Whitney. This is an unimaginable tragedy and we will miss her terribly. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from her fans and friends.”
Since her mother’s death, Bobbi Kristina Brown was rushed to hospital twice and relatives now fear she has become suicidal.
Bobbi Kristina Brown was first admitted after allegedly passing out, after drinking alcohol and then taking a sedative pill given to her by one of her mother’s entourage to calm her down, upon learning of the devastating news.
Her father Bobby Brown cut short his reunion tour with New Edition to fly to Los Angeles to be by the 18-year-old’s side.
Bobby Brown said in a statement: “Obviously, the death of her mother is affecting her, however, we will get through this tragedy as a family. Again, I ask for privacy during this time.”
Bobbi Kristina Brown was pictured being taken out of the Beverly Hilton – the same hotel where her mother had died just hours earlier- on a stretcher at 10:30 a.m. yesterday and being rushed to Cedars-Sinai where she was treated for extreme anxiety.
The teenager was released several hours later, but friends and family are still very concerned about her mental state.
Bottles of Lorazepam, Valium, Xanax and a sleeping medication were found in Whitney Houston’s hotel room, it has been claimed.
The drugs were believed to have acted as sedatives, causing Whitney Houston to fall asleep in the bathtub once they had been mixed with alcohol from the previous evenings.
Whitney Houston drowned alone in a bathtub having accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol after two back-to-back evenings of out-of-control binges, it has been claimed.
Whitney Houston, 48, was found dead by her bodyguard in the luxury Beverly Hilton hotel suite said to have been littered with bottles of prescription pills.
Paramedics battled to revive the singer but she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, hours before she had been due to perform at a pre-Grammys party at the Beverly Hills Hilton in LA.
Bottles of Lorazepam, Valium, Xanax and a sleeping medication were found in the hotel room, it has been claimed. The drugs are believed to have acted as sedatives have caused her to fall asleep in the bathtub once they had been mixed with alcohol from the previous evenings.
Whitney Houston sweats profusely and appears disheveled as she leaves the Tru Hollywood nightclub on Thursday night
As police look into the possibility that Whitney Houston died from an accidental overdose, there are expected to be emotional scenes at the Grammy awards tonight with many of the singers inspired by the legendary star dedicating their awards to her.
Whitney Houston had battled ravaging addictions to crack cocaine over the years but the drug is not believed to have played a part in her death. Police searched the room for illegal substances after discovering the body.
Her frantic daughter Bobbi Kristina, 19, is understood to have got into a “furious screaming argument” with authorities who refused to let her into the hotel room to see the body of her dead mother. Friends of Whitney Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick, who also went to the hotel to try to see the body, have said that she is “inconsolable”.
US reports claim Whitney Houston drowned alone in a bathtub having accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol after two back-to-back evenings of out-of-control binges
Whitney Houston’s body was eventually covered up and wheeled later in the evening after Bobbi Kristina and Dionne Warwick had visited the room and broke down in tears as they were confronted with the tragic reality. Outside, fans gathered to mourn the star.
The exact cause of death is not yet known. But on the Thursday evening before her death, Whitney Houston went on a wild binge in which she is said to have clashed with security guards. The next evening she “partied heavily, drank and chatted loudly” with friends at the hotel bar, claims TMZ.
Members of Whitney Houston’s entourage were aware that she would take prescription pills, including the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, before big shows to calm her nerves, TMZ has also claimed.
It is not known if the destructive spiral played a part in death of Whitney Houston who had spent more than a decade battling an addiction to crack cocaine since rising to international stardom in the early 90’s.
Police have begun searching the hotel room for any signs of illegal drugs. The circumstances of the death are not thought to be suspicious but the authorities are investigating.
As Whitney Houston’s body was wheeled to an ambulance, just yards away stars including Britney Spears, Tony Bennett and Kim Kardashian were taking part in the pre-Grammy Awards party at the hotel.
Whitney Houston had been due to attend the event which was organized by her mentor Clive Davis.
The surreal scene inside the hotel event unfolded with Clive Davis paying tribute to the singer, before saying: “Now ladies and gentlemen, let the music begin.” Stars paid tribute to her throughout the evening.
Grammy president and CEO Neil Portnow, who called Whitney Houston a friend, said “canceling the party was never an option”. He announced that Jennifer Hudson would perform a tribute to Whitney Houston at Sunday’s Grammys.
What is Xanax?
Xanax, or Alprazolam, is a sedative used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
It usually comes in tablet form and works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Xanax can be addictive and drinking alcohol while taking the drug is ill-advised.
Michael Jackson was known to have been using the prescription drug at the time of his death in 2009 as was actor Heath Ledger when he accidentally overdosed in 2008.
