Prince was found with prescription painkillers in his possession and in his home when he died, federal law enforcement officials told NBC News on Wednesday, April 27.
The iconic musician was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park compound in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on the morning of April 21. He was 57.
Officials told NBC News that the Carver County Sheriff’s Office has asked the Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case. The role of the DEA would be to help determine what prescriptions Prince purchased and where they came from.
Officials did not tell the outlet whether the drugs played a role in the “Purple Rain” singer’s death.
An autopsy on the legendary artist was completed on Friday, April 22, but results are still pending. Authorities said during a press conference that day that it could be weeks before the results are available, as they are running a full panel of tests — including toxicology and tissue samples — to determine the cause of death.
But Sheriff Jim Olson did tell reporters that day that there were “no signs” of trauma on Prince’s body, and that officials did not suspect a suicide. Olson also noted that the county’s medical responders did not use Narcan — an emergency treatment to reverse drug overdoses — when they responded to the 911 call.
A week before Prince’s death, his private jet made an emergency landing on April 15 in Illinois hours after he performed a show in Atlanta. He was rushed to a local hospital. His rep later told TMZ that the musician had been suffering flu-like symptoms and was released from the hospital after three hours.
TMZ later reported that the singer had overdosed on the painkiller Percocet and allegedly required a “save shot” from paramedics after the plane landed.
Kratom is a natural painkiller that advocates are now becoming more vocal about, hoping that it can stop more preventable deaths like that of Prince.
A judge on Wednesday ruled that Prince — whose remains have been cremated — did not have a valid will when he died. A trust company has been named to supervise his assets.
