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Doctor Not Suspect in Jackson's Death

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY

posted: 6 HOURS 21 MINUTES AGO

comments: 216

filed under: Music News

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LOS ANGELES - The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's final moments sat down with investigators for three hours to explain his actions, and his spokeswoman says he is not a suspect.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a physician with a tangled financial and personal history who was hired to accompany Jackson on his planned summer concert tour, reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived at Jackson's rented home. The pop star was declared dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

In his interview with police, the doctor "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," Murray's spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement Saturday. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."

The statement said Murray has been in Los Angeles since Jackson's death, and plans to stay here until his cooperation is no longer needed.

Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."

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A Michael Jackson Retrospective

Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital suffering from cardiac arrest. According to reports, he has died at the age of 50. A Retrospective of His Life

X17online

Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson began his life as a child sensation who blossomed into one of the greatest pop stars of all time.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

He was the lead singer for the very popular Jackson 5 that included the his brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. He then morphed into a highly successful recording artist, making his first solo album in 1972.

Ron Galella, WireImage

Jackson appears in the 1982 music video for 'Thriller,' one of the best-selling albums of all time with at least 27 million copies sold worldwide.

Everett Collection

Over the course of his storied career, Jackson won 13 Grammy awards -- eight of them for 'Thriller' alone.

Liason

His stage presence captured the hearts of millions -- including his signature "moonwalk" dance which he unveiled in 1983 while performing 'Billie Jean.' At 50 years old, he was attempting to make a comeback with several dates scheduled in London.

Dave Hogan, Getty Images

Jackson's successes were also marred by personal strife and controversy. In later years, the singer was twice accused of molesting children. In the first, he settled out of court with the accuser, and in the second he was found not guilty.

Roslan Rahman, AFP / Getty Images

Jackson is seen being escorted into court in January of 2004 -- the second time he was charged with child molestation. The first, in 1993, resulted in a settlement reported to be worth about $23 million.

Hector Mata, AFP / Getty Images

Jackson is shown here in his 2003 mug shot where he was booked on child molestation charges. The singer was later acquitted.

Robyn Beck. AFP / Getty Images

The 'Dangerous' star caused a stir when he held his youngest child, Prince Michael II, over the balcony of his Berlin hotel in 2002. His son was later dubbed 'Blanket' due to this incident.

Olaf Selchow, Getty Images

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The interview took place on a busy day when one of Jackson's lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests and celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a star-studded public celebration of the King of Pop's life at the annual BET awards show.

President Barack Obama has written to Michael Jackson's family expressing condolence, White House adviser David Axelrod said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Obama did not issue a statement following Jackson's death, but the White House has said the president saw the pop star as a spectacular performer whose life had sad and tragic aspects.

L. Londell McMillan, who represented Jackson last year in a breach of contact lawsuit and has advised high-profile clients such as Prince, was picked to help the family by Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wants a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.

"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.

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Fans Mourn Michael Jackson

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Australian Michael Jackson impersonator Paul Rizzo displays some of his memorabilia at his West Melton home on June 27, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. Rizzo, who has been impersonating Jackson since 1995 at the age of 13, performs a tribute show called 'Jackson Magic' and is ranked as one of the top 15 Michael Jackson impersonators in the world by America?s BET (Black Entertainment Television) channel. He was "absolutely and completely shocked and devastated " by the news of Jackson's death yesterday, but vows to continue with his show as a tribute to the King of Pop. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

Mark Dadswell, Getty Images

Michael Jackson impersonator who goes by the name Scorpio performs for the media and fans outside the Jackson family home in Encino, California on June 26, 2009. Music legend Michael Jackson died on Thursday at the age of 50. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Fan Mike Manh dances to celebrate the life of pop icon Michael Jackson at Washington Square Park in New York June 26, 2009. Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY IMAGES OF THE DAY) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree473145) [Photo via Newscom]

Eric Thayer, Reuters

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 26: Joan Bryant of Hollywood, California holds a copy of the Los Angeles Times with Michael Jackson on the cover as she waits in line with fans at the Michael Jackson star on Hollywood Boulevard on June 26, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage)

Amy Graves, WireImage

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 26: Fans gather at the Michael Jackson star on Hollywood Boulevard on June 26, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage)

Amy Graves, WireImage

Prison inmates perform during a tribute to late pop icon Michael Jackson at prison grounds in Cebu city in central Philippines June 27, 2009. More than 1500 prisoners, reprised their world famous prison dance based on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on YouTube years back, in a tribute to the late "King of Pop"on Saturday in Cebu provincial prison. REUTERS/Erik de Castro (PHILIPPINES SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree473469) [Photo via Newscom]

Erik de Castro, Reuters

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.

An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

Sisters Janet and La Toya arrived Saturday at the mansion Jackson had been renting and left without addressing reporters. Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.

The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.

"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."

There was no immediate word on whether the second autopsy was being performed right away. Jesse Jackson described the family as grief-stricken.

"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.

Organizers of the annual BET awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — scrambled to revamp Sunday's show to honor Jackson and his legacy.

Previously announced acts, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, hoped to change their planned performances to honor Jackson, said producer Stephen Hill. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate.

—

Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney; Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; and Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2009-06-28 10:48:15

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The All Michael Jackson Edition

<< Plans for the Kids -- Radar

He Was MTV's Jackie Robinson -- Daily Beast

Talk About Influence! Amazing MJ Sample Map -- Buzzfeed

Stars' Twitter Tributes to MJ -- Socialite Life

Young Fans Caught in MJ's Spell -- SnagFilms

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Mopsy1

05:10 PMJun 28 2009

nanasmoe458 05:05 PMJun 28 2009 What makes Michael's death even sadder to me is, he died NOT knowing howmuch he really was loved. The past several years have been spent with him underso much public scrutiny. I only wish he could have seen and heard the many tributes that are being paid to him in death, while he was still alive.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE "LOVE" YOU CITE IS IN NO WAY A SUBSTITUTE FOR A FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS WHO TRULY ARE THERE FOR YOU THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD. HIS UNHEALTHY DEPENDENCE ON THE ADORATION OF FANS WAS INSTILLED BY HIS BELT WIELDING FATHER AS HE WAS FORCED TO SPEND HIS CHILDHOOD LEARNING TO BE A STAR AND MONEY SOURCE FOR HIS PARENTS.

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BlakWidowBambi

05:09 PMJun 28 2009

This is to Annie211: You could be a pedophile for all we know. Maybe you have pedophiles in your family for all you know or maybe you do know. None of us were actually there to know what really happened, if anything happened other than the parents seeing big dollar signs. Doesn't matter, Michael still has plenty of supporters and people who love him even after death, and we outweigh the haters.

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obamaizamarxist

05:07 PMJun 28 2009

the doctor's not a suspect? the hell he ain't..

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Mopsy1

05:05 PMJun 28 2009

HIS FAMILY AND THE LEGIONS OF OTHER LEACHES WHO ATTACHED THEMSELVES TO HIM WILL HAVE TO GO GET JOBS NOW.

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nanasmoe458

05:05 PMJun 28 2009

What makes Michael's death even sadder to me is, he died NOT knowing howmuch he really was loved. The past several years have been spent with him underso much public scrutiny. I only wish he could have seen and heard the many tributes that are being paid to him in death, while he was still alive.

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Anniem211

05:04 PMJun 28 2009

Did you all read the post from the nanny that worked for jackson family many yrs......she claims she, his mother, and sister tried to do an intervention and we went ballistic....supposedly has been mixing drug cocktails for a long time.......lets face it, we can say the MD is to blame, this or that one is to blame, but the truth is the only person to blame is MJ himself..........like all drug addicts/abusers, he was the one that wanted the drugs, he is the one who took the drugs, same for Anna Nicole Smith etc. Unfortunately for Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett, Ed Mc Mahon, Billy mays, the were cancer or long term heart disease..................yep and a touch of drug abuse/alcoholism

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SandPen4

05:03 PMJun 28 2009

Let us not begin to blame Dr. Conrad Murray, as the sole enabler, since he recently started working with Michael Jackson and may not have known the TRUTH about all the DRUGS Michael Jackson was taking. Keep in mind that Michael Jackson had a one hundred thousand dollar annual pain medication habit, therefore, their were a lot of enablers who preceeded and perhaps co-doctored Michael without Dr. Conrad Murray knowing all those who were prescribing Michael Jackson the DRUGS which eventually caused his demise. ALL THE DRUG PUSHING DOCTORS WHO GAVE MICHAEL JACKSON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, WHICH KEPT MICHAEL JACKSON ADDICTED, AND KEPT THE DOCTORS WEALTHY, NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL. AND THE OTHER QUESTION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED IS WHY DID MICHAEL JACKSON NEED A FULL TIME DOCTOR ON HIS COMPOUND?

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MoeshaAC

05:03 PMJun 28 2009

BlakWidowBambi 04:53 PMJun 28 2009 People are so quick to judge. He might have been a child molester or he might not have been. None of us were there....======================================I know definitively MICHAEL JACKSON WAS 100% INNOCENT. I INVESTIGATED and did the job the mainstream media failed to do as they were MONEY HUNGRY just like those accusing. The mainstream media followed the direction of the tabloids in their reporting and participated in Yellow Journalism. It was so incredibly BIAS that I really think it was a CONSPIRACY.MAUREEN ORTH (VANITY FAIR) AND DIANE DIMOND (HARD COPY) LED THE WAY IN YELLOW JOURNALISM. WATCH OUT FOR THEM IN MICHAEL'S DEATH!!THAT 1993 CASE WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. IF YOU THINK AN ALL WHITE JURY ACQUITTED MICHAEL, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A REASON. I KNOW WHAT THAT REASON IS. FRAUDS!! IF MICHAEL JACKSON WAS MICHAEL JACKSON, THOSE CASES WOULD HAVE BEEN EXHORTION.

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Alee513

04:58 PMJun 28 2009

Barbwyre1023 FYI, the doctor was black. So, where does the white part come in? Are you assuming that all doctors are white? News flash, there are large numbers of black doctors, lawyers, nurses businessmen etc.

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Anniem211

04:57 PMJun 28 2009

BLAK WIDOW, what's in a name ????? it is what it is

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