Former Playboymodel and actress Anna Nicole Smith died of an accidental drug overdose with traces of nine prescription drugs in her blood, Florida officials said today.
The death of the billionaire's widow at a Florida casino-hotel on February 8th triggered a media frenzy and bitter legal feud over her remains and the custody of her 6-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, who could one day inherit millions.
There was no evidence of illegal drugs in her body, said Broward County Medical Examiner Joshua Perper.
Joshua Perper speaks during a news conference outside the Broward County Medical Examiners offices in Dania Beach, Florida March 26, 2007. Reuters
He gave a detailed account of the events leading up to her death that included her temperature at various times and the medication she took.
Mr Perper said Smith suffered severe depression after the death of her 20-year-old son, Daniel, who died of a drug overdose in the Bahamas hospital after Dannielynn was born.
Nine prescription drugs including anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs and the sedative chloral hydrate were found in Anna Nicole's blood, Mr Perper said.
Anna Nicole Smith poses for photographers backstage at the 32nd annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles in this November 14, 2004. Reuters
"We are convinced, based on an extensive view of the evidence, that this case is an accidental overdose with no other criminal elements present," said Seminole Police chief Charlie Tiger.
On the day of her arrival in Florida on February 5th, Smith complained of chills and was later found to be running a fever at 105 degrees caused by the perforation in an abscess in her left buttock, he said.
"It is our determination that the cause of death is combined drug toxicity as a result of chloral hydrate and a therapeutic concentration of other medications," said Mr Perper.
"A bacterial infection, a viral intestinal infection and possibly flu were contributory causes of death .... We did not find any evidence of homicide," he said.
Smith, a voluptuous platinum blonde who idolised screen legend Marilyn Monroe, gained fame as Playboymagazine's Playmate of the Year in 1993 and as a model for Guess jeans.
She was buried in the Bahamas on March 2nd after a colourful funeral attended among others her longtime companion and lawyer Howard K Stern, who is listed as Dannielynn's father, and Los Angeles photographer Larry Birkhead, who also claims paternity.
At least one other man also claimed to be the father of Dannielynn. The results of a DNA swab of the child have been placed under seal by a judge in the Bahamas, pending an appeal against the DNA test by Mr Stern.
In 1994, Smith married oil billionaire J Howard Marshall, when she was 26 and he was 89.
Marshall, who was worth $1.6 billion, died 14 months later and Smith spent much of the following decade battling his family over the estate. Marshall's family called her a gold digger.