Erica Blasberg Death Investigation Coming to a Close, but Will it Provide Answers?
Father says questions remain as long as last person with her remains silent.
Aug. 20, 2010— -- Nearly four months after LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg was found dead in her home, the investigation into what caused her death is finally coming to a close.
Her family, however, is not counting on the report, which is expected by next Wednesday, to bring the answers they seek -- namely why their healthy 25-year-old daughter died -- as long as Dr. Thomas Hess, the person last believed to have been with her, refuses to answer questions.
"Will the report be comprehensive enough without Hess' cooperation?" the golfer's father, Mel Blasberg, told ABCNews.com. "I doubt it."
Mel only learned about Hess through the course of the police investigation. To this day, he's not certain what Hess' relationship with his daughter was, other than that they sometimes golfed together. But the more details that emerge about Hess' involvement with Erica, the more suspicious Mel has become.
Hess called 911 from Erica's home in Henderson, Nev., outside Las Vegas, on the afternoon of May 9, the day she was found dead. Reportedly, he spoke to her the night before she died. But since his initial interview with authorities, Hess has hired a lawyer and refused to answer any more questions, Mel said.
Four days after Erica's death, police raided Hess' home and medical office, seizing computers, video cameras, a cell phone, and white plastic trash bags, similar to one found near Erica's body, according to "The Early Show." A prescription, written by Hess, was discovered in Erica's home, although it's unknown whether he was her doctor.
"He's central to Erica's death in terms of being there before she died, and their relationship clearly went beyond doctor-patient," Mel said.
Erica's father stopped short of saying Hess, who is still practicing family medicine in Las Vegas, is responsible for his daughter's death. But he said he does believe Hess is being less than forthcoming about what happened the weekend of Erica's death because of his "inapporopriate relationship" with her.
Henderson police spokesman Todd Rasmussen told ABC there is currently no person of interest in the investigation. There was initial speculation that Erica committed suicide, but no cause of death has been released.
As the "death investigation" has dragged on, Mel says he has become increasingly frustrated.
"I'm not happy with the length of the investigtion," he said. "I'm trying very hard not to to believe that it has been compromised.
"I think the police are totally intimidated by the high profile of the case. I believe it's a concern that there's a doctor very much at the center of this investigation."
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