The painkiller Percocet was present in Prince's body when he was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate, the Star Tribune reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the ongoing investigation into the 57-year-old singer's death on April 21.
The
same source stressed to the Minneapolis newspaper, however, that it's
unclear whether the potent opioid caused or contributed to the legendary
musician's death.
Following
the new report, the Coroner's Office released a statement denying that
they have released any information in regard to the investigation. Prince's autopsy was completed on April 22, and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office previously stated that the results of a full toxicology scan could take weeks.
"Midwest
Medical Examiner's Office has not released any information regarding
the Prince Rogers Nelson investigation to anyone, including law
enforcement," the statement read. "Results are pending. This is an
ongoing investigation in partnership with the Carver County Sheriff's
Office. We will have no further comment at this time."
At the time of autopsy, a source told ET that Prince did have some health issues
-- he was battling the flu, which then turned into walking pneumonia.
The source added that Prince had an issue with Percocet, which he
started taking in 2006 to help relieve pain in his ankle and hip. (He eventually underwent hip replacement surgery in 2010.)
Another source told CBS News
that prescription drugs were found in Prince's possession and at his
home at the time of his death. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and US
Attorney's Office have since been called in to assist
the Carver County investigators with their "federal resources and
expertise about prescription drug diversion" to determine the cause of
Prince's death.
An addiction specialist
from Mill Valley, California, claimed he had plans to meet with the
"Purple Rain" singer, whom he alleges was "dealing with a grave medical
emergency," the Star Tribune reported on Wednesday.
Lawyer
William Mauzy told the newspaper that the singer's reps called his
client, Dr. Howard Kornfeld, just one day before Prince's death in hopes
of scheduling a meeting with the opioid addiction specialist.
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