The initial autopsy results on Heath Ledger — who was found dead in his rented New York City apartment on Tuesday — are inclusive, the medical examiner’s office said Wednesday. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner, said more tests are needed to determine the cause of death. The tests will take about 10 days to complete, Borakove said.
According to a medical examiner spokeswoman, Ledger’s body was released Wednesday afternoon and taken to the Frank E. Campbell funeral home.
"We are investigating the possibility of an overdose," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Tuesday. "There were pills within the vicinity of the bed," Browne added.
Law-enforcement sources said bottles of the generic forms of Xanax and Valium, both anti-anxiety drugs prescribed in his name, were found in the house, The New York Post reported Wednesday. The sleeping pill Ambien was also found near his body, sources told The Post, and Donormyl, an antihistamine used as a sleep aid, and a packet of the insomnia drug Zopiclone, were found on Ledger’s nightstand.
Michelle Williams, Ledger ex and the mother of his 2-year-old daughter Matilda, is devastated, according to reports. The actress is flying back to New York from Sweden where she was working on a film. "It has just broken everybody’s heart in my family," Larry Williams, Michelle’s dad, told The Daily Telegraph in Australia. "My heart goes out to everyone, his family, my family, we are just very saddened. The saddest thing is his daughter, whom he just loved dearly."
After learning of their son’s death through the media, Heath’s parents faced reporters outside their home in Australia to discuss the actor’s untimely passing. Heath’s father, Kim, read a statement as his mother Sally and sister Kate tearfully embraced.
"We, Heath’s family, confirm, the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time," the statement read.
"We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our family’s need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."
