Despite an online report claiming Michael Jackson’s death has now turned into a homicide investigation, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told Access Hollywood the investigation of the singer’s death is “ongoing” and currently not being treated as a homicide.
On Wednesday, TMZ claimed that “the LAPD is already treating Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide, and they are focusing on Dr. Conrad Murray,” citing multiple law enforcement sources. The Web site further claimed that “the evidence points to the anesthesia propofol as the primary cause of Jackson’s death.”
When contacted by Access Hollywood, LAPD Officer Tenesh Dobine defined the investigation as “ongoing” and said that they do not know where TMZ obtained information indicating Jackson’s death was now being treated as a homicide.
“So you are saying this is not a homicide investigation?” Access asked Officer Dobine.
“That’s right,” Dobine said.
Additionally, on Wednesday LAPD Media Relations Officer Sara Faden told NBC News that the investigation was ongoing and that she’s not sure where TMZ got its information.
Also on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Murray’s attorney told Access, “Investigators have not told us this is a homicide investigation,” adding that Murray has not been served any subpoenas or search warrants.
The spokesperson also noted that Murray has been asked for information only once by authorities thus far, on June 27, when he was interviewed for three hours. The spokesperson also claimed that Murray had never met or communicated with Dr. Arnold Klein regarding the care of Jackson.
In more Jackson news, an attorney for Klein released a statement saying his client was “not a subject of the investigation” into the King of Pop’s death on June 25.
“The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that Arnold Klein, MD is not a subject of the investigation into the death of his treasured friend and patient Michael Jackson,” Richard Charnley, an attorney for Klein, said in a statement released to Access.
“Also, reports in the media claiming that Dr. Klein is allegedly not cooperating in the investigation surrounding Michael Jackson’s death are patently false. Dr. Klein has been fully cooperating with and will continue to cooperate with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.”
Charnley said his client has turned over all the documents asked for by the Coroner’s Office.
“Dr. Klein has previously produced records to the Coroner’s Office in response to a subpoena. Following the Coroner’s informal request for additional information, representatives of Dr. Klein agreed to produce further records tomorrow,” the statement continued.
“Neither the Coroner’s Office nor the Los Angeles Police Department have advised Dr. Klein or his representatives that he is a target of their investigation. Representatives of Dr. Klein will not comment further so as not to jeopardize the integrity of the Coroner’s investigation.”
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, a Los Angeles Coroner’s Office official seeking additional medical records served Klein with a subpoena on Tuesday.