Las Vegas Weekly

July 16, 2009 · 10:19 AM

Is Michael Jackson death investigation now all-out murder case?

By Robin Leach

Pop star Michael Jackson waves to fans as he leaves a downtown Tokyo U.S. Army heliport for the U.S. Army base in Zama, near Tokyo, for a friendly visit on March 10, 2007.

Photo: Itsuo Inouye/The Associated Press

We are now only five days away from the toxicology report being released in the death of King of Pop Michael Jackson. The L.A. coroner will disclose it early next week, and it will likely go a long way in determining if the current inquiry becomes a full-on murder investigation.

Official LAPD sources deny that it’s already a homicide investigation, but gossips in Los Angeles say that the continuing police work is already indicative of that charge. Detectives and Coroner’s Office officials have focused closely on two doctors, although as many as seven might be involved with illegally prescribing and providing pharmaceutical drugs.

One of those doctors is Conrad Murray of Las Vegas and his affiliation with a hospital here. Another local doctor, so far unnamed, also is part of the investigation.

Right after Michael’s death, I reported that you would eventually hear the word “murder” associated with this tragedy. Skeptics belittled my inside source. I also was the first to report that the surgical drugs found in Michael’s bedroom of the rented Holmby Hills, Calif., estate would be traced back to a Las Vegas hospital. Now detectives are focused on that, too! Michael lived here in Las Vegas before relocating to Los Angeles to prepare for the run of 50 This Is It concerts at London’s O2 Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabik.com

The televised Michael Jackson memorial tribute at Planet Hollywood.

Allegations have been made that the LAPD believes Michael’s death may have been due to an intentionally delivered overdose of the surgical anesthesia Propofol and that Michael’s personal physician Dr. Murray could have been involved. Harvey Levin’s TMZ gossip Web site reports: “Law enforcement sources say there is already ‘plenty of powerful evidence’ linking Dr. Murray as the person who administered the drug to Jackson. The evidence includes various items found in Jackson’s house, including the Propofol, an IV stand and oxygen tank. And we’ve learned the LAPD has had ‘multiple conversations’ with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, although the case has not been formally presented to the district attorney. Propofol is a very strong sedative used only in hospitals to put patients to sleep before surgery. There were claims that Michael used it to combat insomnia.”

Expect the shocks to continue early next week when the coroner’s report into Michael’s death is released.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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