No Signs of Trauma, Suicide in Prince's Death, Sheriff Says
Officials also said there's no reason to believe it was suicide.
— -- There were no signs of trauma to Prince's body and officials have no reason to believe his death was a suicide, authorities said today.
The Carver County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota explained the investigation into the music legend's death is still ongoing and some details could not be revealed at this time, during a press conference today at 4 p.m. EST.
Sheriff Jim Olson, the local mayor and a deputy and a spokesperson from the medical examiner's office addressed the media and shared further details about how the singer was found at his home.
Staff members of Prince's Paisley Park estate were unable to contact Prince yesterday morning, while led them to check on him, Olson said. That's when he was found in the elevator on the first floor and a 911 call was placed.
Olson added that there were no obvious signs of trauma to Prince's body and that, at this time, there's no reason to believe this was suicide. He said they believed he was last seen by staff at 8 p.m. the night prior and that he was dressed.
"He was in clothes," Olson said when asked to describe Prince's attire. "I can't say I know what he sleeps in versus what he goes out in."
Olson vowed "to leave no stone unturned" in this investigation and said his team will speak to any medical personnel Prince had hired or was working with. The spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office added that the singer's social, medical and family medical history would all be considered.
No further details were given about the results of Prince's autopsy, which was completed Friday by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office. After he was found at his Paisley Park residence on Thursday morning, first responders attempted CPR but were unsuccessful. Prince was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m. Thursday. He was 57.
"As part of a complete exam, relevant information regarding Mr. Nelson’s medical and social history will be gathered. Anything which could be relevant to the investigation will be taken into consideration," the medical examiner's Office said in a press release this morning.
An updated release from the medical examiner's office stated the singer's body would be returned to his family and that a full report, including toxicology, could "likely take weeks."
On Thursday evening, the local sheriff's office released the transcript of the 911 call made from Prince's home to authorities that morning.
The caller, noticeably shaken, said, "We're at Prince's house," and that people around him were "distraught."
Prince's publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, later confirmed that the music icon had died at his home.
"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary iconic performer, Prince, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning," she said.
Prince's body has now been released to his family.