Prince also had a dangerously low red blood cell count, indicating he had been ill, Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP-TV said, citing two unnamed law enforcement officials.
A spokeswoman for the local medical examiner's office that conducted a post-mortem examination of Prince declined to confirm the reports.
The cause of Prince's death remained undetermined. The medical examiner's office said in late April the autopsy and toxicology results could take weeks.
The news reports came after federal authorities said on Wednesday they were joining the investigation into Prince's death.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota will bring federal resources to the local investigation and expertise on the illegal use and trafficking of prescription drugs, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Also on Wednesday, a lawyer for a California addiction doctor said Prince's representatives had contacted the doctor the evening before his death, adding that the doctor had planned to visit Prince for a "life-saving mission."
The 57-year-old Prince was found dead on April 21 at his Paisley Park home-studio complex in a Minneapolis suburb. Prescription opioid medication was found at the scene, a law enforcement source told Reuters.
Dr. Howard Kornfeld, who runs Recovery Without Walls, a clinic in Mill Valley, California, planned to fly to Minnesota on April 22, his lawyer William Mauzy said. In the meantime, his son, Andrew Kornfeld, a clinic staff member, traveled to Minnesota on April 21 for an initial discussion.
When Andrew Kornfeld arrived at Paisley Park, Prince was not available, Mauzy said. A staff member found the artist unconscious in an elevator, and Kornfeld called 911.
(Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Stay tuned ... updates as they come in .
The plot thickens on this story. The Feds are getting involved. Makes it sound like more than just an accident. He may have had health issues going on as well as a drug problem. Low red cell count means he was anemic for some reason. lots of illnesses cause that.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mystery for sure.
Love PIC
I agree the plot thickens ....it's about time a closer watch was put on prescription drugs ... One of the posts said he hurt his hip doing his act years ago and started using prescription drugs .
ReplyDeletePrince wore high heels shoes , which was also a factor in hurting his hip .
Prince was also seen leaving a Walgreens late at night close to his home .
I will keep up with this one .
I think Prince took an overdose to ease the pain , not take his life , your body can become immune to some meds over a period of time ... that's why a doctor should always check your vitals certain period of time before writing a new prescription .
Love PIC