Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Unclear if Bobbi Kristina’s death was accidental
Bobbi Kristina
News
March 3, 2016

Unclear if Bobbi Kristina’s death was accidental

ATLANTA, USA (AP) — An autopsy determined Bobbi Kristina Brown had a mix of drugs in her body when she went underwater in a bathtub, but a medical examiner couldn’t tell whether her death was a homicide, making the criminal investigation tougher.

The medical examiner’s report released Friday showed that Brown, the daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, had morphine, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs in her body. The report, released after months of speculation about how she died, said the medical examiner’s office couldn’t figure out if it was a suicide, a homicide or accidental so it classified the manner of death as “undetermined.”

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard is investigating whether criminal charges should be brought in Brown’s death, but has said very little about the probe.

Brown’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her partner, Nick Gordon, accusing him of giving her a “toxic cocktail” and putting her face down in water. Gordon has not been charged and his attorney said the report should put to rest “all the negativity surrounding” him.

“He’s always maintained his innocence,” attorney Randy Kessler said.

Brown was found face-down in a bathtub in her suburban Atlanta townhome Jan. 31, 2015. Gordon and a friend were listed on the police report as being in the home when investigators arrived. The wrongful death suit says other people were there when Brown was initially found unresponsive.

She was in a coma for six months before dying in hospice care at age 22.

Charges could still be brought even though the medical examiner couldn’t declare the death a homicide, said Georgia State University law professor Jessica Gabel Cino, who teaches forensic evidence. She noted prosecutors have succeeded in getting convictions without even having a body.

“You’ve got to basically comb through all of the victim’s interactions with the defendant and build this entire sequence of events based upon the medical evidence that is available,” Cino said.

The autopsy report had been sealed by a judge at the request of prosecutors, for “public safety and investigative reasons,” Howard said Thursday.

However, two television stations sued for its release and a judge ruled in their favor Thursday.

The medical examiner didn’t find really high levels of any drug, and the combination of drugs found in her system is not unusual, said Dr. Paul Wax, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who reviewed the autopsy report at the request of The Associated Press.

“She’d used a bunch of drugs, she went into the bath and she basically drowned in the bathtub,” he said. “That’s pretty much all you can tell from this report.”

Medical personnel were able to revive her but she suffered brain damage that left her in a coma, and she ultimately died from pneumonia, the autopsy report says.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition which starts the downhill course of events leading to death and in this case is the immersion associated with drug intoxication,” the medical examiner’s office said.

She likely used the drugs within 24 to 48 hours before she entered the bathtub, but it’s not possible to say when she took each one or whether multiple drugs were taken at the same time, Wax said.

Bobby Brown said in a statement that it was “mind blowing” to him for news outlets to seek the autopsy report. He also noted that Friday is his late daughter’s birthday.

“First and foremost, 23 years ago today, Bobbi Kristina was born. Krissy will always live in my heart and soul. I love my baby girl,” Bobby Brown said.

Brown’s death was similar to the way her mother died.

Whitney Houston’s body was found face-down in a foot of water in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just before the 2012 Grammy Awards. Authorities found prescription drugs in the suite and evidence of heart disease and cocaine in Houston’s body and determined her death was an accidental drowning.

Bobbi Kristina Brown was found in the townhome she shared with Gordon, an orphan three years older whom Houston had raised as her own. Brown referred to him as her husband.

Brown grew up in the shadow of her famous parents. She appeared with them in 2005 on the Bravo reality show “Being Bobby Brown” and attended award shows with her mother and father.

Houston and Bobby Brown were married 15 years before their relationship ended in 2007. Bobbi Kristina was their only child together.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Holness says historic low poverty rate is a result of strategic gov’t policies
Latest News, News
Holness says historic low poverty rate is a result of strategic gov’t policies
May 21, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has welcomed the recently announced drop in the poverty rate which he says is a result of targeted p...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Venezuelans in limbo as US court ends deportation protection
International News, Latest News
Venezuelans in limbo as US court ends deportation protection
May 21, 2025
DORAL , United States (AFP) — Denis Caldeira says he is in legal limbo since the US Supreme Court let the Trump administration strip him and 350,000 o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US chides OAS role in Haiti’s political and security situation
Latest News, Regional
US chides OAS role in Haiti’s political and security situation
May 21, 2025
WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The United States (US) is re-considering its policy towards Haiti where criminal gangs are seeking to overthrow the ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Tasha K looks forward to UK return
Entertainment, Latest News
Tasha K looks forward to UK return
May 21, 2025
The last time Tasha T performed in the United Kingdom, it was in 2016 to promote her album, Real Talk . She returns there for two shows, including Cit...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Calabash Fest set for this weekend with stunning line-up
Entertainment, Latest News
Calabash Fest set for this weekend with stunning line-up
May 21, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — This weekend, four acclaimed Man Booker Prize winners — Michael Ondaatje (1992), Ian McEwan (1998), Marlon James (2015), and Sheha...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gas prices up $2.03, 1.75 diesel up $3.06
Business, Latest News, News
Gas prices up $2.03, 1.75 diesel up $3.06
May 21, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see an increase at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, May 22, according to the latest ex-refi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Spurs edge Man Utd to win Europa League and end trophy drought
Latest News, Sports
Spurs edge Man Utd to win Europa League and end trophy drought
May 21, 2025
BILBAO, Spain (AFP) -- Brennan Johnson's scrambled goal ended a 17-year Tottenham trophy drought with a battling 1-0 win over Manchester United in the...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA Most Valuable Player award
Latest News, Sports
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA Most Valuable Player award
May 21, 2025
MIAMI, United States (AFP) -- Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Most Valuable Player in the NBA for the 2024-2025 season on We...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct