Prince's sudden death has been surrounded by more questions than answers. Now, however, it appears that the late artist died of an opioid overdose.
UPDATE (6/2, 2:50 p.m.): The report from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office was issued today regarding Prince's death. The Minnesota medical examiner says Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. The one page report added Prince "self-administered fentanyl," referring to the synthetic opioid as being many times more potent than heroin.
The news comes via the Associated Press, which reports a law enforcement official has informed the news agency that, according to tests, an opioid overdose is the indeed the star's cause of death. The official, however, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not properly authorized to speak to the media. AP does report, however, that the unnamed official is close to the investigation.
UPDATE (6/2, 5:45 p.m.): TMZ reports that Prince's death will be the subject of a criminal investigation in order to determine how the singer got the opioid that killed him. Law enforcement officials have told the publication the investigation will focus on the "illicit" possession of the drug fentanyl, and both U.S. state and federal prosecutors will be investigating how Prince got the drug and who facilitated it.
As previously reported, 57-year-old Prince was found dead on April 21 in his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota.
Since then, much confusion has surrounded the singer's passing, not only in regards to his official cause of death, but the fact that he had no will. Prince was reported to be noticeably ill before his death, with rumours of him suffering from a painkiller addiction.
UPDATE (6/2, 2:50 p.m.): The report from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office was issued today regarding Prince's death. The Minnesota medical examiner says Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. The one page report added Prince "self-administered fentanyl," referring to the synthetic opioid as being many times more potent than heroin.
The news comes via the Associated Press, which reports a law enforcement official has informed the news agency that, according to tests, an opioid overdose is the indeed the star's cause of death. The official, however, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not properly authorized to speak to the media. AP does report, however, that the unnamed official is close to the investigation.
UPDATE (6/2, 5:45 p.m.): TMZ reports that Prince's death will be the subject of a criminal investigation in order to determine how the singer got the opioid that killed him. Law enforcement officials have told the publication the investigation will focus on the "illicit" possession of the drug fentanyl, and both U.S. state and federal prosecutors will be investigating how Prince got the drug and who facilitated it.
As previously reported, 57-year-old Prince was found dead on April 21 in his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota.
Since then, much confusion has surrounded the singer's passing, not only in regards to his official cause of death, but the fact that he had no will. Prince was reported to be noticeably ill before his death, with rumours of him suffering from a painkiller addiction.
