Sheriff Declines To Discuss Reports Prince Overdosed
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It could be weeks before we learn what caused his death inside Paisley Park Thursday morning. The medical examiner performed an autopsy Friday, but says more tests need to be done before releasing information. Prince died unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park Studio in Chanhassen.
As the memorial grows outside Paisley Park where Prince took his final breaths, we learned more about what led to the death of the musical genius.
"To you Prince Rogers Nelson was a celebrity. To us he is a community member and a good neighbor," Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said.
Olson reports Prince was last seen Wednesday night around 8, when an acquaintance dropped him off at Paisley Park.
"Staff members from Paisley Park had been unable to contact Prince yesterday morning and went to check on him. They found him unresponsive and called 911," Olson said.
Paramedics located Prince in an elevator on the first floor. CPR was given but was unsuccessful.
Authorities say there were no obvious signs of trauma and he was alone when he died.
"Because this was an unwitnessed death of a middle aged adult, the decision was made to process the scene, that is also normal protocol," Olson said.
Late last week Prince's plane made an emergency landing at the Quad City International Airport. The airport told WCCO emergency personnel responded to an "unresponsive subject," who was then taken to a local hospital. Prince's publicist later said he was treated for flu-like symptoms.
The medical examiner's office completed an autopsy and says the office will do a complete exam.
"It will include his medical history, his social history and his family's medical history as well," Martha Weaver with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office said.
And while the world waits for answers, local authorities work diligently to provide them.
"It's better for this for us to do it well than for us to do it fast so we're going to do the best job we can," OIson said.
It could take weeks for toxicology tests to come back. The medical examiner's office said the office won't release any information until their investigation is complete.
