Investigators are reportedly now trying to determine whether a drug overdose could have led to the iconic late singer’s death and if he had been prescribed drugs by a doctor in the weeks leading up to his passing, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, via Chicago Tribune.
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Investigators believe a health scare about a week before Prince’s death, which caused an unscheduled landing of his plane in IL, was likely the result of a reaction to the pain medication, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.
Investigators so far haven’t found any indication that Prince had a valid prescription for the recovered opioid medications, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.
One line of enquiry for investigators is whether a doctor was on board Prince’s private jet when the singer fell ill in the days before he died.
The source also confirmed that Prince was found unconscious on that plane and that he was given a “save shot” called Narcan.
The search warrant for Prince’s home and studio – carried out the day of his death – was filed under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if the contents were public. But according to Martha Weaver, spokeswoman for the medical examiners office, the results will not be released for “several weeks”.
Although unproven, sources told TMZ that a physician prescribed the opioid painkiller Percocet to Prince in 2009, after he began having hip problems.
Prince was found dead at his home last week.
Reports of the possible role of painkillers in Prince’s death have been prominent in tabloid coverage since his still-mysterious emergency treatment at a hospital a week before he was found dead at Paisley Park.
Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud disputed reports that police had asked the US Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case.
It should be noted that Prince’s death happened a week after his reported emergency landing in IL.
Since Prince’s death, three of his albums – two greatest hits collections and “Purple Rain” – have stormed back to the top 10 of the USA charts. “We don’t know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this”. He played two shows in the city on April 14 as an apology.
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Long-time friend and collaborator Sheila E said Prince had physical issues from performing.
