Heath's Death Could Be Natural Causes

Heath LedgerIt sounds strange, but sources intimately connected with the Heath Ledger investigation tell TMZ it's possible the actor died of natural causes.

The reason they think that -- it's now appearing that the level of toxicity (from medication) in Ledger's system was low enough that it may not have caused his death. These sources say Heath's heart stopped. It could have been a heart attack but it's not certain, at least not yet. Although it's bizarre that a 28-year-old could die of natural causes, it happens.

We've also learned authorities do not believe the housekeeper heard Ledger snoring when she walked in his bedroom at around 1:00 PM. Sources tell us, a fireman observed rigor mortis in Ledger's jaw shortly after arriving on scene at around 3:30 PM. Sources say they now believe Ledger was dead for around three hours prior to their arrival, so they don't believe the housekeeper could have heard snoring.

Authorities are also annoyed at news reports that there may have been a sinister plot to remove illegal drugs from Ledger's apartment before cops and firemen arrived. There are reports out there that the masseuse called Mary-Kate Olsen and a plot was hatched to have her bodyguard remove certain drugs. Authorities tell us that's impossible, because the cops were there the entire time the bodyguard was present and there would have been no opportunity to carry out such a plan. They say it's a made up story.

As we first reported, the masseuse contacted the bodyguard because she knew he was a licensed EMT.

Reader Comments

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46. The rush for judgement is just sickening. a person can die - for whatever reason and at any age. Maybe the masseuse heard a gurgling noise, and he was choking? Somehow he suffocated on vomit? called aspiration? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. None of that came out on the autopsy - and that would have been clearly seen. I think someone has the time wrong on when the masseuse arrived and when the body guard arrived. How they can even suggest MKO had anything to do with this is beyond dreaming. TMZ has lost all creditability - in my book. They are worse than ambulance chasers. Facts arne't right - nothing. The bloggers have a better understanding of this than TMZ. GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT HARVEY BEFORE YOU POST GARBAGE!

Posted at 7:43PM on Jan 26th 2008 by hopey-joe

47. Dr. Baden has been on the tube constantly since he died. seems like a good guy.

Posted at 7:42PM on Jan 26th 2008 by :(sad girl

48. I wouldn't want to live the life of a celeb for anything. The masseuse and MK prob did what has been done a million times before. Celeb collapsed from over-indulgance and its sorted out by some 'friend' or staff member before the Emergency Services gets there. Better there's no scandal than get help!!

What a disgrace! What if that delay had cost Heath his life? I realise that he had been dead for a while, but what if he hadn't? What if he had been alive when they faffed about with the phone?

I could bitch slap the housekeeper, the masseuse and MK

Posted at 7:44PM on Jan 26th 2008 by AF

49. do not believe what you're reading here. heath ledger did not die of
natural causes. the people involved here have significant amounts of
influence with respect to what may/may not be reported and/or written on a death certificate.

you're a fool if you believe the natural causes story. this is like
the old jim morrison "heart failure" story. (i'm not drawing any
comparisons between ledger and morrison other than the official,
deliberately vague, PC news reporting giving very general conditions as their cause of death
at their time of death.) this essentially exonerates the people around him who could have done something to help and/or who used his illnesses/addictions to manipulate him and it makes the family feel better that, officially, he "just expired."

i don't say any of this out of disrespect to heath ledger, i just think the people controlling the news have their way too often.

Posted at 7:45PM on Jan 26th 2008 by cartwheel

50. Just can't find the words....

What is wrong with a society that thinks it is (normal) to have so many and overlapping prescriptions written to a patient. In reading blogs since the Anna Nicole saga, I am shocked at how many Americans are on multiple pharmaceutical drugs for "perceived" physical or "perceived" emotional or mental illness. Exercise, meditation, healthy nutritional diet, and psychotherapy, if necessary, first! If there is a genetic-inherited condition that is one thing, but we have a society living on drugs (no wonder people cannot afford health insurance)! During the past eight years, I rarely watch television as most of the ads are for pharmaceutical drugs.

Posted at 7:46PM on Jan 26th 2008 by Drug Danger!

51. I thought that from the beginning too, especially after hearing the bottles were practically full.
A girl I used to babysit for died on Christmas day at age 21. She went downtown Christmas Night to meet friends for a drink and collapsed as she walked in the front door of the restaurant. No history of health problems, was a runner and not overweight in the least. Sometimes there is just no explanation.

I hope this is the case with Heath. His family didn't deserve the crap that has been spewed all week. Maybe the John Gibson's and Entertainment Weekly's with their not so subtle innuendos will have to eat their words.

Posted at 7:45PM on Jan 26th 2008 by annie2

52. i was also just watching the ten thing i hate about you also and it is so sad he was so young there and cute and it
was a good movie i had seen it a few times but for some reason today i think i payed attention even more. i thought that heath was a really good actor and would have put out many more good films, but now he is a legend and to me always will be

Posted at 9:57PM on Jan 26th 2008 by tlb

53. Oh come on! Let the rumours die. 28 year olds CAN drop dead of natural causes. Granted its not common but it happens. He could have had issues that no one else knew of. So why can't the media allow Heath to pass into the next world. I mean obviously the man did not kill himself. The man did not purposely take too many pills. He was tired and he now lays in eternal sleep, can people not drop it and let it go?

Posted at 7:46PM on Jan 26th 2008 by allye

54. OKAY, so where is msfanni and all her talk about him being a druggie???? HMMMMMM??? Eat your words BITCH and everyone else who left nasty and unjust comments about Heath!!!!!

Posted at 7:47PM on Jan 26th 2008 by Heath is Clean of drugs

55. Regareless of how he died, the fact remains that he died far too young, his family are absolutely heartbroken, and always will be. Nothing will bring him back to them, but it might be a bit easier if the cause of his death were determined to be from something other than an overdose, accidental or otherwise. I feel so bad for his poor parents-- I can't even imagine how it must feel to have to come halfway around the world to bury your child.

Posted at 7:48PM on Jan 26th 2008 by cubalibre

56. i'm hearing rumors that he was actually married to michelle williams. can anyone offer more incite into their relationship???????????????????????????????? are his parents freezing her out?

Posted at 5:53PM on Jan 27th 2008 by jelly belly bear butt

57. 34. No matter what the report says, in my mind he did die of natural causes.
Heath was a beautiful person I feel in love with him and his work in the first movie i every watched with him in it.
Eventhough he is gone I will continue to watch and enjoy his films!!!!!!

Posted at 7:32PM on Jan 26th 2008 by crazyj

It's just too bad we won't be seeing him again in any future films. The man just had so much potential.

Posted at 7:51PM on Jan 26th 2008 by DF

58. My 17 year old daughter had an infection last September and was given antibiotics. We fed her and put her to bed but she woke up freezing and not able to breathe.She could not feel her arms. We rushed to the emergency room and it took 6 hours to return her heart back to normal. She had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic which she had taken in the past for illness with no reaction. If she would have went to sleep she probably would have died. They are reporting he was on an antibiotic. Could he have had an allergic reaction? It is possible. No matter how young and healthy you are. RIP HEATH.

Posted at 7:53PM on Jan 26th 2008 by Sad for Heath

59. Housekeeper, massage lady and idiot Olsen twin had no cle what to do! Duh

Posted at 7:55PM on Jan 26th 2008 by DogBone

60. this story is full of holes like swiss cheese, i ain't buying it, they shouldn't be selling it, " Possible, Could Have, May Not Have, Authorities Tell Us, i have a Bridge to sell you.

Posted at 8:27PM on Jan 26th 2008 by Killer Klown from Outer Space

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