Luxe Life Blog

Michael Jackson death ruled homicide; dermatologist linked to kids, drugs

Posted August 28, 2009 • 11:35 a.m.

This photo provided by the MJ Memorial shows, from left, Janet Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Jermaine Jackson at Michael Jackson's public memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. (AP Photo/MJ Memorial, Kevin Mazur)

Moments ago, the Los Angeles County coroner officially announced the cause of Michael Jackson’s death!

The report states “death by acute propofol intoxication and other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine effect.” The manner of death is ruled a “homicide.” “The drugs propofol and lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson’s death. Other drugs detected were midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine.”

The coroner only issued a press announcement and did not release the full autopsy report, which along with the toxicology report will remain sealed for now under security instructions from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Michael Jackson would have been celebrating his 51st birthday in London this weekend; instead, it’s the eve of a Las Vegas tribute concert celebrating the music from his life cut so abruptly short and days before his burial. Now as Strip performers from our various headline shows get ready for tomorrow’s spectacular at The Pearl in the Palms comes more shocking revelations -- on top of all the other stunning news of recent weeks!

Beverly Hills, Calif., dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein, who has been named as the biological father of the two children from the ill-fated Michael Jackson-Debbie Rowe marriage, is now under investigation for prescribing drugs to the King of Pop. His lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan explained yesterday why he attended the guardianship hearings for the two oldest children, Prince Michael I, 12, and his sister Paris, 11.

“Dr. Klein was well aware that the two children could be biologically linked to him,” said the lawyer who confirmed that Debbie, a nurse, mothered the children for Michael and had worked for the doctor for many years. The third child, Prince Michael II, aka as Blanket, was born to a different and as yet unnamed surrogate mother. It is openly discussed that Dr. Klein provided the sperm bank with chromosomes used for Debbie’s embryo impregnation. He hasn’t denied that claim, although he hasn’t confirmed it but has come close several times in interviews.

“No purpose is served other than creating distraction. It is not going to help the children other than to solve the answered question, which is a selfish motive to see who the ultimate provider of the 13 chromosomes is,” said the lawyer.

It appears that the dermatologist and Michael had an agreement that if anything happened to the superstar entertainer, Dr. Klein would do what he could to see that the children were protected. Accordingly, Dr. Klein’s lawyer sat in on the hearings and was satisfied that matriarch Katherine Jackson’s plans for the children’s upbringing in a private school and away from Hollywood show business influences, which Michael and Dr. Klein wanted, would be followed.

Tomorrow also was originally scheduled to be the Forest Lawn Memorial Park burial of Michael in Glendale, Calif., but that date has been pushed back to Sept. 3 -- next Thursday, as patriarch Joe Jackson turns up with LaToya Jackson for the tribute concert in the Palms.

Performers will include Terry Fator, Clint Holmes, Human Nature, Holly Madison and her cast from Peepshow, host Erich Bergen and his cast from Jersey Boys, plus the sexy Sirens of T.I. and the cast of Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular. Go to VegasLovesMJ.com for more info. Tickets are still available for the 3 p.m. show to benefit Clark County schools’ music education.

After the show, I will emcee the Brenden Theatres Celebrity Star presentation. Palms owner George Maloof and theater owner Johnny Brenden will unveil the Michael Jackson star and present it to Joe Jackson. Afterward, CineVegas has arranged a rare screening of Michael’s film Moonwalker, followed by a Q&A with Michael’s co-star Kelly Parker, the film’s director Colin Chilvers and its choreographer Vincent Patterson, who is now here prepping the new Cirque du Soleil Elvis Presley show. Click HERE for details about that December production.

As Las Vegas spends the weekend paying tribute to its one-time resident, news about a Michael Jackson memorabilia tour being exhibited here heats up. Personal items from Neverland and memorabilia from the This Is it concerts scheduled in London will go on tour for two years, and Las Vegas will reportedly house it after its four- to six-month residency at the 02 Arena in London, where Michael would have performed. A Los Angeles judge overruled a bid by Katherine Jackson to stop the exhibit -- she said the exhibit could harm her son’s legacy -- and gave the go-ahead, saying it could earn as much as $6 million for the estate.

Elsewhere in Las Vegas, the American Superstars dancers at the Stratosphere will perform four special weekend shows tonight and tomorrow honoring Michael’s birthday. The Desert Angels Gospel Choir will join tribute artist Frederick Henry, and the production is being distributed on satellite TV across the world. Tomorrow night, other top tribute artists in Michael Jackson costumes will entertain with live vocals and dance moves at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s Strip-side in celebration of Michael’s life at Planet Hollywood.

Vegas DeLuxe will have full photo coverage of all the events, along with our conversations with Joe and LaToya Jackson, right here on Monday, so be sure to click back then.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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