AP Source: Coroner rules Jackson's death homicide [Archive]

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samanthajane13

08-24-2009, 06:09 PM

By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died.

The coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died June 25 in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released. Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson's death, the official said.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who became Jackson's personal physician weeks before his death, is the target of a manslaughter investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. According to a search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday in Houston, Murray told investigators he administered a 25 mg dose of propofol around 10:40 a.m. after spending the night injecting Jackson with two sedatives in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to sleep.

The warrant, dated July 23, states that lethal levels of propofol were found in Jackson's system. Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner's toxicology report found other substances in Jackson's system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer's death, the official said.

Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he "told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail." His attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that "should have" killed Jackson.

A call to the coroner's office was not returned Monday.

Murray did not say anything about the drugs he gave to Jackson.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation

SaraSidle

08-24-2009, 06:55 PM

wind149

08-24-2009, 07:04 PM

What a big surprise!!! Nawwwww???? Shades of ANS huh? Ole Doctor Murray is in deep deep sh!t for sure!!! Especially since it is a controlled drug that only surgeons and OR personnel are privy too and I asked my doctor about this when I saw her last and she told me that even though she is an MD in Internal Medicine, she would be unable by law, to go to the RX downstairs and obtain that drug and if she tried, the RX would notify the AMA and possibly the police!!! Now I am betting this here doc saw dollar signs and was digging the prestige for being his doctor and threw caution to the wind and when he is sitting in his jail cell feeling sorry for himself, he has no one to blame but himself as greed and being star struck took over and I hope they send him away for life! Now as you all know I have never been on a big fan of MJ, and he has been an addict for years and this was bound to happen and I don't feel sorry he died one bit.

I feel for his kids though and I hope they turn out normal but that is debatable??? They were being raised by him and who knows how he was as a parent, he could not handle his own life and then felt compelled to have these kids and I think a part of why he wanted these kids and jumped through hoops with Debbie Rowe was to deflect the gay rumors that had floated out there for decades and we all know that is why he married Lisa Marie and everyone saw through that sham and they got divorced and then the 2nd charges of molesting kids came to light and no one was going to believe that he was straight after that because he molested boys not girls. And I still believe he should have gone to prison and the 1st time he was accused he piled hush money in the mama's hand and she did not pursue charges. He knew how to pick his victims well. So for his death to be ruled a homicide is not surprising, he had enough sedatives and whatever else he had him in to choke a horse and his doctor is going down in flames and I could care less because he made a choice and he chose to heavily medicate a has-been pop star, child molester and a hard core addict because he was star struck and greedy.

samanthajane13

08-24-2009, 07:16 PM

I said it before and I'll say it again-

Murray will go down in history as the man who killed Michael Jackson-King of Pop-for a fast buck.

VERY STUPID.

samanthajane13

08-26-2009, 02:09 PM

Time gap in Jackson death could prove key to case
By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writer – Wed Aug 26, 7:08 am ET

LOS ANGELES – A key point of contention has emerged in the case investigators are piecing together about the death of Michael Jackson: Exactly when did Dr. Conrad Murray realize that his patient had stopped breathing?

There are currently two accounts of that moment on June 25, and about an hour separates them.

According to police documents, Murray told detectives he put Jackson to sleep with drugs just minutes before he found the singer not breathing around 11 a.m., then let nearly 90 minutes go by — much of that time on his cell phone — before an ambulance was called.

But Murray's lawyer says the doctor didn't discover a stricken Jackson until around noon.

Investigators have ruled Jackson's death a homicide, based on tests showing he was killed by the combination of the anesthetic propofol with at least two sedatives, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the finding has not been publicly released.

The homicide designation does not necessarily mean a crime was committed, though it's a helpful starting point should prosecutors choose to seek criminal charges. Police have said Murray is the target of an investigation into manslaughter, defined as a homicide without malice or premeditation.

Murray told police he spent the morning of June 25 administering various sedatives to Jackson in an attempt to get him to sleep, according to an affidavit for a search warrant served last month on Murray's clinic in Houston. Unsuccessful in inducing rest, the doctor ultimately gave in to the singer's demands for a dose of propofol around 10:40 a.m.

By 11 a.m., after a short trip to the bathroom, Murray said he saw Jackson was not breathing and began trying to revive him, both with a "rescue" drug and by performing CPR, according to the documents. An ambulance was not called until 12:21 p.m. and Murray spent much of the intervening time making non-emergency cell phone calls, police say.

That timeline is flawed, said Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, who was present when investigators spent three hours interviewing the doctor June 27. Chernoff said Murray never told police he found Jackson not breathing at 11 a.m. — instead, it was more like noon.

"Their theory is he came back and wasn't breathing. That's not what Dr. Murray told them," Chernoff said Tuesday. "They are confusing the time Michael Jackson went to sleep with the time he stopped breathing."

Chernoff did not provide additional detail about what Murray had told police.

Home use of propofol is virtually unheard of — safe administration requires lifesaving equipment and a trained anesthesiologist monitoring the patient at all times. While the 25 mg dose Murray said he gave Jackson was relatively small, its combination with the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam proved deadly.

Even if Murray found Jackson around noon, he still waited too long to call an ambulance, said one medical expert, adding that anyone — including doctors — should make calling an ambulance their first priority.

"In a situation like that, time is life," said Dr. Douglas Zipes, an Indiana University heart specialist and past president of the American College of Cardiology. "It's got to be immediate or you are going to lose the individual."

Phone records show Murray spent 47 minutes between 11:18 and 12:05 making three personal calls. One of the calls was to one of Murray's offices, Chernoff said, adding that the doctor never told investigators about the calls because he wasn't asked about them.

At 12:13 p.m., Murray made a four-second call to Jackson's personal assistant, Michael Amir Williams, pleading for help, Williams' attorney Carl Douglas said. Within two minutes, Williams called Alberto Alvarez, Jackson's bodyguard, with a similar plea.

Douglas, who also represents Alvarez, said the bodyguard hurried to the top floor of Jackson's rented mansion, a private sanctum where staff were not normally allowed, and assisted a confused-looking Murray as he frantically tried to revive Jackson. It was Alvarez that placed the 911 call at 12:21 p.m.

Douglas said Alvarez might be able to shed some light on Murray's actions but, two months after the death, police investigators had still not formally interviewed his client and had only spoken fleetingly with him at the hospital immediately after Jackson was pronounced dead.

Douglas said he was "dismayed at the seeming haphazard manner investigators have gone about obtaining information."

Deputy Police Chief Charlie Beck declined to comment, citing the continuing investigation.

Chernoff did not provide additional detail about what Murray had told police. Early on in the case, the lawyer released a statement saying his client didn't give any drugs that "should have" killed Jackson. Asked to elaborate on the statement, Chernoff said: "I stand by that assertion and I believe that will be borne out in time."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090826/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation

samanthajane13

08-28-2009, 12:01 AM

Warrant: Jackson family told cops about drugs
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, Associated Press Writer Anthony Mccartney, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 7 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Police who searched Michael Jackson's home the day after he died were acting on information from family members who said they'd found a bag of heroin in his bedroom, but a person with knowledge of subsequent test results on the substance said it turned out not to be the drug.

The search did, however, turn up a number of other drugs including marijuana, the generic form of Valium and other sedatives. A detective also indicated Jackson's body showed signs of injections.

The disclosure came in an affidavit supporting a search warrant that was executed June 26, three days earlier than any previously reported search of Jackson's rented mansion in Bel-Air.

Two warrants came to light Thursday after several media outlets including The Associated Press asked to unseal four search warrants Los Angeles police detectives served in the early days of the Jackson death probe. The judge ordered two of the documents to remain sealed.

The unsealed warrants provide a glimpse into how police were directing their investigation immediately after Jackson's death. The warrant served at his rented Bel-Air mansion the day after he died lists "PC 187," the California penal code for murder, in the box labeled "probable crime."

That warrant states family members told a coroner's official "they had located a quantity of tar heroin in a bag in the decedent's bedroom," though the person with knowledge of tests on the substance said heroin was quickly ruled out. The person was not authorized to speak to the media and asked for anonymity.

Detectives also secured a search warrant for the car of Dr. Conrad Murray, the personal physician with Jackson when he died. The affidavit states detectives spoke to Murray in the hospital after the singer's death but he only gave a short summary of what had happened then left the hospital over detectives' objections.

In the intervening two months, investigators have pieced together a much fuller picture of how Jackson died and Murray has emerged as the central figure in a manslaughter probe. Investigators believe he was negligent in administering the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives to Jackson and that those drugs killed the singer.

Murray's attorney Edward Chernoff has said Murray never administered anything that "should have" killed Jackson. The coroner has not officially released autopsy results but a law enforcement official who requested anonymity because the investigation is ongoing told the AP the death has been ruled a homicide.

The search of Murray's car turned up some documents, but no additional drugs.

Also Thursday, an attorney for Jackson's longtime dermatologist does not plan to petition for a role in the upbringing of the singer's three children. Mark Vincent Kaplan said Dr. Arnold Klein is satisfied that a judge appointed an attorney to oversee their interests.

Kaplan surprised many by saying Klein wanted a role in the children's lives during a court hearing earlier this month. Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, was granted permanent guardianship of the children at the hearing, and a judge ruled that Klein didn't have legal standing to intervene, but told the doctor he could file a motion later if he still had concerns.

Kaplan said Klein got involved because he was concerned about the children having a normal upbringing not related to show business. Jackson told Klein repeatedly that he wanted his children to have a formal education and not be subjected to the rigors of traveling and performing, Kaplan said.

Klein's involvement in the case raised questions about the whether the doctor could be the father of Jackson's two oldest children, a rumor fueled by tabloid reports and Klein's own cryptic answers when questioned on the matter.

___

Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090828/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson_investigation

One2Snoop

08-28-2009, 12:29 AM

I don't think the doctor is totally responsible but I do believe he took the Hippocratic Oath and he should've known better. I think he got caught up in the excitement of being associated with Michael Jackson and it snowballed thereafter.

People can easily be infulenced by other's money and fame, and did I mention money and fame? What more can I say?

Michael Jackson is resting in peace with his maker - sucks for his doctor who didn't think beyond his pockets.

samanthajane13

08-28-2009, 01:04 AM

The CARDIOLOGIST isn't even BROAD CERTIFIED...that's speaks volumes to me.

He got his degree and got lazy.

And you're right about the fame thing.

I was talking to my mom about it the other day.

He was in debt up to his eyes, and probably figured he could not only care for the BAZILLIONAIRE DRUGGIE, but he could make other new rich celebrity connections and care for them, too.

Then he could clear his "regular" patient list and travel with the jet-set crowd, making a bazillion bucks himself.

Plenty of time to play golf, travel the world with his NEW patients and live the HIGH LIFE!!!

Probably saw himself as "doctor to the stars".

Seeing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ all over the damned place!!!

All he had to do was give MJ any damned thing he wanted.

And Mikey wanted to SLEEP...which meant DRUGS. He's already been through rehab after the Pepsi debacle.

That should have been a BIG RED FLAG to the "doctor".

Idiot didn't even know how to do CPR properly!!! You NEVER do CPR on a soft surface!!!

Now he'll go down in history as the a-hole who killed the King of Pop.

One2Snoop

08-28-2009, 01:10 AM

samanthajane13

08-28-2009, 01:26 AM

I don't know, Snoop.

I do hope he's nailed for what he did.

I don't think this is ever going to be over.

The Jackson family won't let it end, in my opinion.

This is the most fame they've had in years, except for the whole molestation deal, and I think they're sort of enjoying it-the way the Anthonys are getting off on the whole Caylee case.

It's down right ghoulish, if you ask me.

samanthajane13

08-28-2009, 07:33 PM

Coroner: Jackson death homicide, sleep aids caused
By THOMAS WATKINS and JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press Writers Thomas Watkins And Justin Pritchard, Associated Press Writers – 53 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's death was a homicide caused primarily by the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative, the coroner announced Friday in a highly anticipated ruling increasing the likelihood of criminal charges against the pop star's doctor.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office determined the cause of death was "acute propofol intoxication." Lorazepam, another sedative sold under the brand name Ativan, contributed to the death.

Additional drugs detected in Jackson's system were the sedatives midazolam and diazepam, the painkiller lidocaine and the stimulant ephedrine.

The coroner did not release Jackson's full autopsy report, citing a security hold requested by Los Angeles authorities investigating the case, and declined to comment beyond a short statement announcing the manner and cause of death.

The coroner's determination of a homicide confirmed what The Associated Press first reported Monday, citing an anonymous law enforcement official.

The 50-year-old Jackson died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion. Dr. Conrad Murray, the Las Vegas cardiologist who was the pop star's personal physician, told police he gave Jackson propofol that morning after a series of sedatives failed to help Jackson sleep.

Murray has not been charged with any crime but is the target of what police term a manslaughter investigation. Multiple search warrants served at his home and businesses in Las Vegas and Houston sought evidence detailing how he procured the propofol that killed Jackson. Jackson's interactions with at least six other doctors also are being scrutinized.

Except for a brief video posted to YouTube earlier this month, Murray has not spoken publicly since Jackson's death. In the video, he said: "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail."

Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, said he was disappointed the full autopsy report wasn't released. Without that, it was impossible to seek independent expert opinion on the significance of the various drugs detected.

"Release the toxicology report, the whole thing. Sunlight is the best disinfectant," Chernoff said. "This smells like gamesmanship."

Chernoff repeated his assertion that nothing Murray gave Jackson "should have" killed him.

It's not clear when the full report may be released. The coroner said the security hold would remain until the investigation is wrapped up. The Los Angeles Police Department and the district attorney's office said they did not know when that would be.

A statement by the LAPD said the investigation into the death is ongoing and "will result in the case being presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing consideration."

The coroner's determination of homicide makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed but does not guarantee it. In the past seven years just a handful of doctors have been convicted of manslaughter, mostly involving their patients' use of painkillers. To win a conviction, prosecutors would have to show that Murray acted recklessly and with negligence.

Murray was hired by Jackson's promoter AEG Live to help keep the aging star fit during the grueling preparation for a series of comeback "This Is It" concerts in London. Jackson got to know Murray in Las Vegas, where he moved after a stint overseas following his 2005 exoneration on child molestation charges and where the Caribbean native ran a clinic.

It was a break — and a $150,000-a-month salary — that Murray desperately needed. The doctor hadn't paid the mortgage on his country club mansion in 2009, and according to court records he owed a total of at least $680,000 in judgments against him and his medical practice, delinquent student loans, child support and credit cards.

Murray has been interviewed twice by police. According to court records, he told investigators that over about six hours he injected Jackson with two doses each of lorazepam and midazolam. Finally, around 10:40 a.m., Murray said he succumbed to Jackson's demands and administered propofol, a drug Murray said he had given Jackson every night for six weeks. He said he had diluted the propofol with lidocaine.

Propofol, dubbed "milk of amnesia" among anesthesia professionals, commonly is used to render patients unconscious for surgery. It's only supposed to be administered by anesthesia professionals in medical settings and, because of its potency, requires the patient be closely monitored at all times. Using propofol strictly as a sleep agent violates medical guidelines.

Medical experts said the drugs found in Jackson's system magnify each other's effects.

"Instead of one plus one equals two, one plus one equals three," said Lee Cantrell, a toxicologist and director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System.

A search warrant affidavit unsealed this week in Houston includes a detailed account of what detectives say Murray told them. The doctor said he'd been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night via an intravenous drip, the affidavit said. Murray said he feared Jackson was becoming addicted to the anesthetic, which is supposed to be used only in hospitals and other advanced medical settings, so he had lowered the dose to 25 milligrams and added the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.

That dosage is very small and by itself it's very unlikely it would have killed him. But with the other drugs there was a "benzodiazepine effect," according to the coroner, and it was deadly.

Dr. David Zvara, anesthesia chairman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said it's difficult to determine what constitutes a fatal dose of propofol in someone receiving other sedatives.

"It's hard to set any level because of the way those act in synergy," he said. Given after the sedative lorazepam, "Even a small dose of propofol might have a very large effect."

Jackson had many medical procedures over the year and a long history with various drugs. Following his death, three medical professionals said Jackson asked them for propofol this spring. All refused. One, a registered nurse named Cherilyn Lee, recounted that Jackson told her he liked how the drug knocked him out fast and allowed him to sleep for hours longer than he could naturally.

Doctors were surprised by the coroner's mention of ephedrine, once sold as the controversial diet drug Ephedra and now banned by the federal Food and Drug Administration, though the drug can be used for resuscitation. Zvara said it's unlikely emergency personnel who responded to Jackson's home would have used that drug since epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline, is favored.

___

Associated Press reporter Alicia Chang in Los Angeles, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee and AP Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_michael_jackson_autopsy;_ylt=AksqNAPqSm79w76boU 5UMOUnHL8C;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0MGo1Y2tmBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMD kwODI4L3VzX21pY2hhZWxfamFja3Nvbl9hdXRvcHN5BGNwb3MD MgRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA2Nvcm9uZX JqYWNrcw--

Looks like the Doc is SCREWED!!!

samanthajane13

08-29-2009, 07:40 PM

Coroner: Jackson death homicide, sleep aids caused
By THOMAS WATKINS and JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press Writers Thomas Watkins And Justin Pritchard, Associated Press Writers – Sat Aug 29, 4:32 am ET

LOS ANGELES – The morning Michael Jackson died, his personal physician says, he was given a series of sedatives to help him sleep, and when those didn't work, he was given the powerful anesthetic propofol.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who has been interviewed twice by police, has not been charged with any crime but he is the target of what police term a manslaughter investigation.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office announced Friday in a highly anticipated ruling that Jackson's death was a homicide caused primarily by propofol and another sedative increasing the likelihood of criminal charges against Murray.

In a brief video posted on YouTube earlier this month, Murray said: "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail." Except for the video, Murray has not spoken publicly since Jackson, 50, died June 25.

Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, has repeated his assertion that nothing Murray gave Jackson "should have" killed him.

The coroner's office determined the cause of Jackson's death was "acute propofol intoxication." Lorazepam, another sedative sold under the brand name Ativan, contributed to the death.

Additional drugs detected in Jackson's system were the sedatives midazolam and diazepam, the painkiller lidocaine and the stimulant ephedrine.

Multiple search warrants served at Murray's home and businesses in Las Vegas and Houston sought evidence detailing how he procured the propofol that killed Jackson. Jackson's interactions with at least six other doctors also are being scrutinized. In addition, California Attorney General Jerry Brown has opened an independent probe of several physicians.

In the past seven years just a handful of doctors have been convicted of manslaughter, mostly involving their patients' use of painkillers. To win a conviction, prosecutors would have to show that Murray acted recklessly and with negligence.

The coroner's determination of homicide makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed but does not guarantee it.

"That decision is not binding on the district attorney," said Steve Cron, a criminal defense attorney and adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's law school. "But it is one more piece of the puzzle that leads toward the conclusion that someone will be prosecuted for his death."

The coroner's determination of a homicide confirmed what The Associated Press first reported Monday, citing an anonymous law enforcement official.

The coroner did not release Jackson's full autopsy report Friday, citing a security hold requested by Los Angeles authorities investigating the case. The coroner also declined to comment beyond a short statement announcing the manner and cause of death.

Murray's attorney said he was disappointed the full autopsy report wasn't released. Without that, it was impossible to seek independent expert opinion on the significance of the various drugs detected.

"Release the toxicology report, the whole thing. Sunlight is the best disinfectant," Chernoff said. "This smells like gamesmanship."

It's not clear when the full report may be released. The coroner said the security hold would remain until the investigation is wrapped up. The Los Angeles Police Department and the district attorney's office said they did not know when that would be.

When Michael Jackson's promoter AEG Live hired Murray to help keep the aging pop star fit for a series of comeback concerts in London, the doctor hadn't paid the mortgage on his country club mansion in 2009, and according to court records, he owed a total of at least $680,000 in judgments against him and his medical practice, delinquent student loans, child support and credit cards.

For Murray, the $150,000-a-month job was a break he desperately needed.

Jackson got to know Murray in Las Vegas, where he moved after a stint overseas following his 2005 exoneration on child molestation charges and where the Caribbean native ran a clinic.

According to court records, Murray told investigators that over about six hours he injected Jackson with two doses each of lorazepam and midazolam. Finally, around 10:40 a.m., Murray said he succumbed to Jackson's demands and administered propofol, a drug Murray said he had given Jackson every night for six weeks. He said he had diluted the propofol with lidocaine.

Propofol commonly is used to render patients unconscious for surgery. It's only supposed to be administered by anesthesia professionals in medical settings and, because of its potency, requires the patient be closely monitored at all times. Using propofol strictly as a sleep agent violates medical guidelines.

Medical experts said the drugs found in Jackson's system magnify each other's effects.

Continued...

samanthajane13

08-29-2009, 07:41 PM

"Instead of one plus one equals two, one plus one equals three," said Lee Cantrell, a toxicologist and director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System.

A search warrant affidavit unsealed this week in Houston includes a detailed account of what detectives say Murray told them. The doctor said he'd been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night via an intravenous drip, the affidavit said. Murray said he feared Jackson was becoming addicted to the anesthetic, which is supposed to be used only in hospitals and other advanced medical settings, so he had lowered the dose to 25 milligrams and added the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.

That dosage is very small and by itself it's very unlikely it would have killed him. But with the other drugs there was a "benzodiazepine effect," according to the coroner, and it was deadly.

Dr. David Zvara, anesthesia chairman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said it's difficult to determine what constitutes a fatal dose of propofol in someone receiving other sedatives.

"It's hard to set any level because of the way those act in synergy," he said. Given after the sedative lorazepam, "Even a small dose of propofol might have a very large effect."

Jackson had many medical procedures over the year and a long history with various drugs. Following his death, three medical professionals said Jackson asked them for propofol this spring. All refused. One, a registered nurse named Cherilyn Lee, recounted that Jackson told her he liked how the drug knocked him out fast and allowed him to sleep for hours longer than he could naturally.

Doctors were surprised by the coroner's mention of ephedrine, once sold as the controversial diet drug Ephedra and now banned by the federal Food and Drug Administration, though the drug can be used for resuscitation. Zvara said it's unlikely emergency personnel who responded to Jackson's home would have used that drug since epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline, is favored.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for Dr. David Adams, an anesthesiologist mentioned in a search warrant affidavit, said Murray's account of their meeting with Jackson was inaccurate.

Documents state Murray told detectives he was present when Adams sedated Jackson with propofol at a cosmetologist's office in March or April.

Adams' lawyer, Liborius Agwara, said his client spoke to Murray on the phone and met him in person only once, at a meeting with Jackson at Murray's Las Vegas office in March. Adams didn't perform or witness any medical procedures at that meeting, the lawyer said.

Agwara said Adams administered propofol to Jackson four times in 2008 to assist a dental surgeon.

___

Associated Press reporters Alicia Chang in Los Angeles and Oskar Garcia in Las Vegas, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee and AP Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090829/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_autopsy

You know-I said it before, and I'll say it again:

If it were a junkie living in a homeless shelter or under a bridge in a cardboard box, NOBODY would give a rat's ass. We probably never would have hear the story of his life and horrible death.

But this was the King of Pop!!

All Hell is going to rain down on this "doctor"-and I use that term VERY LOOSELY.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between MJ and the fictitious guy in the box.

THEY WERE BOTH JUNKIES!!!

Okay-yeah-there IS a difference.

The guy in the box PROBABLY would have died of a self-administered over-dose.

MJ PAID the "doctor" to inject him with lethal quantities and types of powerful drugs.

But MJ is JUST as guilty in his own death as the "doctor".

If he'd gotten help and rehabbed, he'd still be alive and celebrating his birthday today.

But he didn't accept that help.

Instead, he hired his own killer to get him whatever he wanted.

wind149

08-29-2009, 09:48 PM

This is not earth shattering here, just like with Elvis, his doctor overdosed him to death at his request! Now I suffer from insomnia myself as do most of my family, it is like I am bi-polar at night, my mind rushes and I take a sleeping agent that works just fine for me and if I were to take more than prescribed on top of the other meds I take, I could be in trouble and would overdose and look at all the time line and the freaking drugs this terrible man gave him!! Valium, Adavan, 2 blasts of Versaid, and more Adavan and then the Diprovan and then another blast of that and he croaked!!! Half of this would choked a horse for Christ's sakes!!! I would say that ole Doc is in a world of ca ca and is surely going to be facing some serious jail time and he better pray that he has enough coin to afford a high priced lawyer because he is going to need a Mark Garagos to get him out of this!!! And he does not have the license to practice in CA but did it anyway, so that RX is probably going to take a fall too for "doctoring their books" and what I mean by this, is all the aliases that were used and they know damm well it was for this waste case has been and I am sure their books are being audited as all RX's have done at least yearly according to mine because I asked them and the Feds want to know all they dispense, especially the C-2's the narcotics. So I would predict that lots of people are going down besides DR FEELGOOD!!
s

samanthajane13

08-31-2009, 12:39 PM

Joe Jackson: 'Someone should pay' for son's death

NEW YORK – Michael Jackson's father says he'd never heard of the drug propofol until it was implicated in his son's death.

"I'm not angry. I'm mad," Joe Jackson said in an interview that aired Monday on NBC's "Today" show. "I didn't know all this was going on. That's what I'm mad about."

The Los Angeles County coroner's office announced Friday that Michael Jackson's death on June 25 was a homicide caused primarily by propofol and another sedative, and ruled propofol with other anti-anxiety drugs was a contributing factor in his death.

Jackson was using propofol to help him sleep, a practice medical experts consider extremely dangerous.

Joe Jackson said the coroner's announcement "tells me there was foul play done. That's what it tells me. And more to be investigated to see what is behind all of this stuff, not just Dr. Conrad Murray."

Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who was Michael Jackson's personal physician, hasn't been charged with any crime but he is the target of what police term a manslaughter investigation.

"Someone should pay. Not just someone but all of them should pay that's involved," Jackson said.

___

NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

___

On the Net:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_en_ot/us_people_joe_jackson

Joe-it's called LIFE INSURANCE AND MALPRACTICE SUITS!!!

SaraSidle

08-31-2009, 02:13 PM

samanthajane13

09-01-2009, 09:59 PM

Jackson death certificate reflects homicide ruling
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 6 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's death certificate has been amended to reflect his cause of death as a homicide, specifying "injection by another" as the fatal injury.

The designation was not a surprise — coroner's officials said last week that they believed Jackson's death on June 25 was a homicide.

Investigators have said a mix of the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative killed the pop singer. The new record lists "acute propofol intoxication" as the main cause of death and "benzodiazepine effect" as another significant contributor.

The public copy of Jackson's death certificate has not been changed to reflect his permanent resting place. Jackson is scheduled to be interred on Thursday evening at Forest Lawn Glendale.

The document does not mention Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Jackson's personal physician. He told detectives that he gave the singer a series of sedatives and propofol to try to help him sleep.

The coroner's determination of homicide makes it easier for prosecutors to seek criminal charges, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed. Authorities investigating the singer's death have served search warrants in at least three states, California, Nevada and Texas.

No criminal charges have been filed over Jackson's death.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_death_certificate

samanthajane13

09-21-2009, 05:37 PM

Authorities taking their time in Jackson case
By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch, Ap Special Correspondent – 1 hr 57 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – It's been almost three months since Michael Jackson's shocking death, and while Los Angeles police are close to wrapping up their investigation, the decision on whether to bring criminal charges is at least weeks and perhaps months away, legal experts say.

Last month the Los Angeles County coroner ruled Jackson's June 25 death a homicide caused primarily by the powerful anesthetic propofol in combination with the sedative lorazepam. Both were administered in Jackson's mansion by his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

Murray is the target of what police term a manslaughter investigation but the probe is far broader, encompassing a half-dozen doctors who treated Jackson over the years. Police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents are trying to reconstruct Jackson's extensive drug history, a task made more difficult because the pop star used pseudonyms to obtain medications.

Tracking down where Jackson got drugs, who provided them, how much his prior drug use contributed to his death and lining up experts to distill complex medical information into layman's terms for a jury is time-consuming.

"There's no reason for anyone to jump the gun on this," said Greg D. Lee, a retired supervising DEA agent. "Time is on their side. There's no imminent danger to the public from Dr. Murray."

The decision on criminal charges will come from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said a request for charges comes after a police investigation is completed and prosecutors examine the evidence themselves. "We haven't been presented with anything," she said.

Except for a brief video posted to YouTube, Murray has not spoken publicly since Jackson's death. In the video, he said: "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail."

Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, did not return a message seeking comment but previously has said nothing Murray gave Jackson "should have" killed him.

Murray has been interviewed twice by police. According to court records, he told investigators that over about six hours he injected Jackson with two doses each of lorazepam and midazolam. Finally, around 10:40 a.m. on June 25, Murray said he succumbed to Jackson's demands and administered propofol, a drug Murray said he had given Jackson every night for six weeks to allow him to sleep.

Propofol commonly is used to render patients unconscious for surgery. It's only supposed to be administered by anesthesia professionals in medical settings and, because of its potency, requires the patient be closely monitored at all times. Using propofol strictly as a sleep agent violates medical guidelines.

The coroner's finding of homicide, or death at the hands of another, does not automatically mean a crime was committed. To bring a manslaughter charge, prosecutors must show there was a reckless action that created a risk of death or great bodily injury. If a doctor is aware of the risk, there might also be an issue of whether the patient knows that risk and decided to take it.

Dr. Jayson Hymes, an anesthesiologist and specialist in pain medication and addiction, said authorities are confronted with a central question: "It's not illegal to be a bad doctor but when does it go from bad medicine to so unbelievably stupid it's criminal negligence?"

He said investigators may be questioning Murray's claim that he was trying to "wean" Jackson off the powerful anesthetic by giving him decreasing doses.

"It makes no sense," said Hymes. "You don't wean people off propofol. People don't go around craving propofol. What he needed to be weaned off of were all the other drugs."

As for Jackson's demand for propofol, he said, "He didn't understand that anesthesia is not sleep. If he wanted restorative sleep, he was going in the wrong direction."

Los Angeles attorney Harland Braun, a celebrity defense attorney who also has represented doctors in court, suggested prosecutors may take the case to a grand jury and let it investigate the evidence and recommend action.

Loyola University Law School professor Laurie Levenson said history hangs over prosecutors as they build the case. The district attorney's office is shadowed by memories of the O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake murder acquittals and the Phil Spector case that took two trials to win a second-degree murder conviction.

Prosecutors will want to make sure they have a very strong case before proceeding.

"There's no question that a bad thing happened," she said of Jackson's death. "But you need to prove to 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that it is manslaughter. That's a very high threshold."

Vesna Maras, a former Los Angeles deputy district attorney who spent 12 years trying medical and pharmacological cases for the office, noted it is not illegal to simply administer propofol.

"If he didn't research the drug that would be conscious disregard of the risk to human life, which is second-degree murder," she said. "If he did research it, was aware of the risks and didn't exercise due caution and circumspection before administering it, that is involuntary manslaughter."

Criminal defense attorney Steve Cron cited the fact other agencies including the DEA have simultaneous probes involving other doctors who prescribed medications to Jackson and pharmacies that filled the prescriptions. If all investigations must be completed before charges are filed, it could take considerable time.

In the Anna Nicole Smith drug case, it took authorities 2 1/2 years to bring charges against her doctors and boyfriend. And the counts were less serious — supplying drugs to an addict.

Lee noted once charges are filed, "the clock starts ticking" on statutory time limits for prosecution. So, "what's the rush?" he said. "I don't see any urgency on the part of the government."

(This version SUBS graf 17 to correct to second-degree murder FROM manslaughter.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090921/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson_legal

samanthajane13

09-23-2009, 12:29 PM

Woman connected to Jackson's doc to testify
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – Wed Sep 23, 6:28 am ET

LOS ANGELES – A woman connected to Michael Jackson's personal physician has been ordered to testify before a grand jury in Los Angeles, her attorney confirmed Tuesday.

Nicole Alvarez received a subpoena to appear before the grand jury on Wednesday morning, said Joseph Low IV, adding that prosecutors declined to give him any more details

He also declined to characterize the relationship between Alvarez and Dr. Conrad Murray.

Newspaper reports have called her Murray's girlfriend and said the pair have an infant son together. Alvarez's apartment was searched last month.

Murray is the target of an investigation into Jackson's June 25 death, which has been classified a homicide. He told police he gave the pop superstar the powerful anesthetic propofol and other drugs in the hours before Jackson's death.

Murray's attorney has said the doctor didn't give Jackson anything that "should have" killed him.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which would prosecute the case against Murray if one is filed, declined to comment.

A grand jury subpoena is an effective way to force reluctant witnesses to testify, said Stan Goldman, a professor of criminal procedure at Loyola Law School Los Angeles.

"They can be held in contempt just like refusing in court," Goldman said.

He said it's hard to tell what Alvarez's testimony to grand jurors might mean for Murray.

It's possible authorities "don't have such a strong case that they want to do without this woman," Goldman said. "They'd rather have her.

"On the other hand, it's not good, because they're still interested it seems."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_investigation

samanthajane13

09-25-2009, 03:18 AM

Lawyer: Girlfriend of Jackson doc ends testimony

LOS ANGELES – The girlfriend of Michael Jackson's personal physician finished giving testimony before a grand jury in Los Angeles on Thursday, her lawyer said.

Joseph Low, the lawyer for Nicole Alvarez, said his client began testifying on Wednesday.

By law, he was not allowed to discuss what Alvarez was asked but said she had been cooperative in providing a statement.

Alvarez is the girlfriend of Dr. Conrad Murray, who is the subject of an investigation into Jackson's June 25 death, which has been classified as a homicide.

Murray told police he gave the pop superstar the powerful anesthetic propofol and other drugs in the hours before Jackson's death, court records state.

Murray's attorney has said the doctor didn't give Jackson anything that should have killed him.

Police searched the apartment of Alvarez last month, but Low said his client did not want to talk to investigators without a lawyer present. It took until this week for a spot to open up on the grand jury schedule.

"The grand jury is a tool that a very professional and thorough prosecutor will use to conduct an investigation, and that's what was done here," Low said. "We willingly participated in that."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090925/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_investigation

samanthajane13

10-03-2009, 10:16 PM

Autopsy: Jackson Healthy, Tattooed, Bald
Posted Thursday 01 October 04:00 PM By: PopEater

His weight was normal. His heart was strong. Besides a case of arthritis, damaged lungs and a skin disease that reduced pigment in his body, Michael Jackson was actually a pretty healthy 50-year-old man. Those are just some of the fascinating findings in an autopsy report that was leaked to the Associated Press this week.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Perhaps most surprising, though, were the bizarre autopsy details pertaining to Jackson's exterior.

-- There were dark tattoos on his eyebrows and around his eyes, a pink tattoo around his lips and what appeared to be a dark tattoo on the front of his scalp stretching from ear too ear.

-- He was balding, with his remaining hair described as short and tightly curled.

-- He indeed suffered from a skin disease that reduced pigment and left patches of white skin around his chest, abdomen, face and arms.

-- He had multiple scars around his body, including behind his ears, along one shoulder, at the base of his neck and near his navel.

The coroner has ruled Jackson's death at age 50 a homicide with his death caused by acute intoxication of the anesthetic propofol with other sedatives a contributing factor. The coroner found the propofol was administered without any medical need and that recommended resuscitation equipment was missing.

The autopsy findings block a potential defense for Murray - that Jackson hid serious pre-existing conditions that increased the risk of death from the drugs he willingly took.

"It clearly establishes that Michael Jackson was a healthy person whose death appears to have been directly caused by the administration of some very powerful sedatives," said criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Mark Werksman. "This autopsy report seems to clear the path for a prosecution that his death was caused by an overdose."

The Los Angeles County coroner's report shows Jackson's weight of 136 pounds was in the acceptable range for a 5-foot-9 man. His heart was strong with no sign of plaque buildup. His kidneys and most other major organs were normal.

Still, the singer did have health issues, many of them age related, including arthritis in the lower spine and some fingers, and mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. Most serious was the condition of his lungs, which the autopsy report said were chronically inflamed and had reduced capacity that might have left him short of breath.

But the report noted the condition of his lungs would not have been a direct or contributing cause of death.

Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, said he was anxious to see the full autopsy results and would not comment until he had done so. He added that he stood by his original statement that Murray did not administer anything that "should have" killed Jackson.

Except for a brief video posted to YouTube, Murray has not spoken publicly since Jackson's death. In the video, Murray said: "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail."

Michael G. Dave, a Los Angeles lawyer specializing in civil litigation, said the autopsy report would be valuable for the Jackson family in the event they file a wrongful death civil suit. Such suits have a lower burden of proof than criminal prosecutions.

"That report, at face value, is dynamite for both the prosecutors and the heirs of Michael Jackson," said Michael G. Dave, a Los Angeles lawyer specializing in civil litigation. "It will go a long way to enable the heirs to win any wrongful death suit."

Stan Goldman, criminal law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the autopsy findings would likely bolster a possible prosecution.

"The question for me is not if the prosecution has a stellar case for involuntary manslaughter but if they are going to try to go for some kind of murder," Goldman said.

Records state Murray told police he administered 25 milligrams of propofol to Jackson. But that's a very small dose that would not have kept the star under for long, raising questions about whether Murray misspoke or police misinterpreted what he told them.

The report provided details about Jackson's state from head to toes.

He had a ¾-inch scar behind his left ear and another apparent scar behind his right ear. He had a scar beside each of his nostrils and another, 4-inch scar on his right shoulder. He had a pair of additional scars about 3-inches long at the base of his neck and smaller scars on his arms and wrist. He also had a small scar near his navel and a 2-inch scar on the right-hand side of his abdomen.

He was going bald at the front of his head, with his remaining hair described as short and tightly curled. The bald part of his scalp was darkened with what appeared to be a tattoo stretching across the top of his head from ear to ear.

The coroner found depigmentation of his skin around his chest, abdomen, face and arms. The report also said he was actively producing sperm.

http://www.popeater.com/2009/10/01/autopsy-jackson-was-in-decent-shape/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F200 9%2F10%2F01%2Fautopsy-jackson-was-in-decent-shape%2F#

Jadedblueeyes

10-04-2009, 06:51 PM

Coroner: Michael Jackson was in Good Health

Rumors swirled that the rigor of rehearsals for his 50-date “This Is It” concert in London effectively killed an ailing Michael Jackson. On the contrary, the music legend’s autopsy report shows that he was in normal health for a man of his age and he died without any illegal drugs in his system.

The Associated Press claims that the report could be a tool for prosecutors building a case against Michael’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who told police he administered a powerful anesthetic to the singer shortly before he died.

The coroner ruled that Michael’s death at age 50 on June 25 was caused by acute intoxication of the anesthetic propofol with other sedatives a contributing factor. The coroner found the propofol was administered without any medical need and that recommended resuscitation equipment was missing.

Despite rumors that Michael was skeletal when he died, the Los Angeles County coroner reveals that, at 136 pounds, he was a normal weight for a man of 5 ft. 9 inches. His heart was strong and his kidneys and most other major organs were normal.

The singer had a few health issues including arthritis in his lower spine and some fingers, and mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. He also had inflamed lungs which may have left him short of breath, but wouldn’t have contributed to his death.

Murray’s attorney, Edward Chernoff, told the AP he was anxious to see the full autopsy results and would not comment until he had done so. He added that he stood by his original statement that Murray did not administer anything that ‘’should have” killed Jackson.

The report reveals that he had a variety of scars— possibly from cosmetic surgery — on his face, neck, shoulder, arms and abdomen.

And the star, who never appeared in public without flowing locks or a hat, was balding on the front of his head, his remaining hair is described as short and tightly curled. The coroner found depigmentation of his skin around his chest, abdomen, face and arms.

http://www.okmagazine.com/2009/10/coroner-michael-jackson-was-in-good-health/#

samanthajane13

10-08-2009, 04:24 PM

Jackson doctor may face arrest over child support
By OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press Writer Oskar Garcia, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 16 mins ago

LAS VEGAS – The doctor at the center of an investigation into Michael Jackson's death may face arrest and could lose his medical license after missing a hearing to explain late child support payments, the Las Vegas district attorney said Thursday.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger told The Associated Press that a district judge could approve an arrest warrant for Dr. Conrad Murray that's recommended by a family court hearing master within 10 days.

"At that time, we'll send our investigators out to locate and arrest Dr. Murray," Roger said.

Roger says Murray, who owes $13,000 in unpaid child support to a California woman, can object to the warrant before a judge approves it.

Murray's lawyer in the Jackson case, Edward Chernoff, is not representing Murray in the family court case, Chernoff spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said Thursday.

"Ed's dealing with one thing and one thing only, and that's the investigation into Michael Jackson's death," Sevcik said.

Sevcik said she did not know whether the 56-year-old doctor had another attorney for the child support case.

Roger said he also plans to ask the state medical board to suspend Murray's medical license because of the unpaid support. Roger said his office would soon file a motion in family court and send a letter to the board saying Murray is behind on his payments.

Murray would have 30 days after that to make good on past payments, or risk suspension of his professional license, Roger said.

Nevada laws allow prosecutors to go after professional licenses belonging to those behind on child support.

"We're not singling out Dr. Murray, this is an option that we frequently use in order to make sure that people pay their obligations," Roger said.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles are weighing charges against Murray in the pop singer's death. Murray told police he administered a powerful anesthetic to the singer shortly before Jackson died June 25.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_doctor

samanthajane13

11-16-2009, 11:38 AM

Jackson MD due in Vegas court in child money case
The Associated Press
November 16, 2009, 10:44 AM

A lawyer for the physician being investigated in Michael Jackson's death says he'll ask a judge in Las Vegas to let his client make minimum child support payments for now, because he can't get work.

Attorney Christopher Aaron says Dr. Conrad Murray will appear Monday for a Clark County Family Court hearing to explain why he's fallen more than $14,000 behind in support payments to a California woman and her son. Aaron says Murray had to close his medical practice and move due to threats following Jackson's death June 25.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger says Murray should pay what he owes.

Los Angeles police are focusing a homicide investigation on Murray. He told investigators he gave Jackson a powerful anesthetic before the singer died.

http://www.buffalonews.com/260/story/863552.html

samanthajane13

11-18-2009, 11:21 PM

Janet Jackson: Michael in denial over drug problem
By FRAZIER MOORE, AP Television Writer Frazier Moore, Ap Television Writer – Wed Nov 18, 2:05 pm ET

NEW YORK – Janet Jackson says she recognized her brother Michael's drug problem, and tried to help him, but that he rebuffed those attempts to intervene.

"You can't make 'em drink the water," Jackson told ABC News in an interview airing Wednesday.

When asked if her brother was in denial about his addiction, she replied, "Possibly."

"I wish he could answer this question for you and not me," she told ABC's Robin Roberts. "I felt that he was in denial."

She blames Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, for his death June 25.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles are weighing charges against Murray, who told police he administered a powerful anesthetic to the singer shortly before he died.

During the interview, the 43-year-old Janet Jackson spoke of her upcoming diet book, "True You," which chronicles her lifelong struggle to control her weight.

She has gained some mastery over her self-image, she said, after years of "just picking yourself apart all the time because you're so used to being kind of picked apart."

She said she hasn't seen "This Is It," the new documentary film spotlighting her late brother as he prepared for the concert tour that would've taken place last summer.

"I definitely won't, not right now," she said. "I don't know if I will ever see it."

___

ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co.

___

On the Net:

http://www.abc.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_en_mu/us_tv_janet_jackson

samanthajane13

11-22-2009, 10:11 PM

Attorney: Jackson's doctor returning to work
By KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 34 mins ago

LAS VEGAS – Michael Jackson's former personal physician is returning to work at his Houston clinic for the first time since before the pop singer's death, his lawyer said Sunday.

Dr. Conrad Murray is set to resume office hours Monday at his Armstrong Medical Clinic in Houston, attorney Edward Chernoff told The Associated Press.

"He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," Chernoff said of his client, a 56-year-old cardiologist licensed in Nevada, California and Texas.

"His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family," Chernoff said from Houston. "His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him, despite the attention and despite the threats."

Chernoff said Murray visited the Armstrong clinic Friday to see 16 patients who had requested appointments. Murray last worked at the clinic in April, before suspending his regular practices in Las Vegas and Houston to take a lucrative $150,000-per-month job as Jackson's personal physician.

Chernoff said Murray was never paid for the time he worked for Jackson.

"In effect, he has had no income for seven months," the lawyer said. He noted that Murray paid $700 in borrowed cash last Monday in a Las Vegas court to avoid going to jail for nonpayment of child support due to a California woman and their 11-year-old son. The woman agreed to forgive some $15,000 Murray already owed.

Murray on Sunday attended Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, thanking parishioners and friends for their support, a spokeswoman for Chernoff and Murray said.

"He said he's back," spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said.

Murray, who lives in Las Vegas, was at Jackson's bedside when the 50-year-old pop singer died June 25. The doctor has been the focus of a Los Angeles police homicide investigation since telling investigators he administered propofol, a powerful operating room anesthetic, to Jackson to help the pop star sleep.

Authorities searched Murray's Houston clinic and a rented storage unit on July 22, and conducted searches later at Murray's home and office in Las Vegas, at properties in Los Angeles, and at a Las Vegas pharmacy where police say Murray bought five 100-milliliter bottles of propofol.

Murray has not been charged with a crime.

Chernoff said Murray has been followed and threatened since Jackson died, and felt he had to close his Las Vegas office because patients were being harassed as they came and went.

"Ultimately, he will reopen his office in Vegas," Chernoff said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091122/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_doctor