Initial Autopsy on Heath Ledger Failed Finding Cause of Death

Wed, 23 January 2008 22:27:02 ET

Further examination will be conducted with results to be released in ten to fourteen days after the Wednesday (Jan. 23) autopsy.

Family, friends, and fans of Heath Ledger apparently have to wait longer to find out the actor's cause of death. New York City's medical examiner revealed Wednesday, January 23, 2008 that first autopsy conducted turned out to prove inconclusive.

"The autopsy was finished and the cause of death for Mr. Ledger will be pending further study," Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the medical examiner, said, adding that next results will be released in ten to fourteen days after tissue and toxicology tests.

Meanwhile, further details concerning Ledger's passing on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 22) have emerged with reports of the discovery of a rolled-up $20 bill on the floor near the Australian thespian's bed. New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne, however, stated lab tests found nothing to indicate it had been used to snort drugs.

Six different types of prescription drugs were also discovered in his apartment, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety plus an antihistamine. No illegal narcotics or alcohol found, police said.

In other news, mourning fans of Ledger built a shrine of flowers and candles Wednesday outside the star's apartment in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. Among them, there was a touching note wrapped around a small Australian flag read "You gave us Aussies of our generation hope that we can be big in spite of humble beginnings back at home."

Still regarding Ledger's death, President George W. Bush is reported to have postponed an event to launch an advertising campaign on preventing prescription drug abuse, "given the tragedy of yesterday's passing of the beloved actor," spokeswoman for White House Dana Perino remarked.

"We did not want anyone to think we were trying to link into that story in any way."

Ledger, an Oscar-nominated actor for his role in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain", was pronounced dead at 3:36 P.M. on Tuesday after being found naked and unconscious on his bed by a housekeeper and a masseuse who came for a massage appointment with him. The 28-year-old is survived by Matilda Rose, his two-year-old daughter with former fiancee Michelle Williams. Williams reportedly has taken flight back to New York from Trollhattan, Sweden, where she had been filming her new starring vehicle "Mammoth."

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