Coroner Visits Another Beverly Hills Doc
We've learned L.A. County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter just arrived at the Beverly Hills medical office of Dr. Lawrence Koplin, subpoena in hand. We've learned Winter is on the hunt for Michael Jackson medical files.
We're told Winter is interested in the records of the nurse anesthetist in the office -- David Fournier. We're told Dr. Arnold Klein performed procedures on Jackson in Dr. Koplin's office and Fournier administered anesthesia.
UPDATE: Winter has just left and he confirmed he is "still looking for medical records involving Michael Jackson."
Story Developing ...
'Power Grab' in Vegas Over Jackson Case
A turf war between Las Vegas law enforcement on one hand and the DEA and the LAPD on the other could have compromised yesterday's raids on Dr. Conrad Murray's office and home ... according to multiple law enforcement sources.
We're told the DEA and LAPD wanted to conduct simultaneous raids in Houston and Las Vegas to maintain the element of surprise ... but the Vegas raids were delayed 6 days.
Sources say the D.A. in Vegas threw up road blocks and delayed for days before going to court to obtain a search warrant ... A member of the D.A.'s office told us it's routine for prosecutors to be "careful" in securing warrants.
But sources in other agencies involved in the searches scoff at the D.A.'s concerns, claiming this was nothing more than the D.A. wanting to call the shots.
And several sources say the Vegas police slowed things down by trying to take the lead over the DEA in executing the warrants.
One top law enforcement official says, "There was more than enough probable cause to get a warrant." Another law enforcement officer called the actions of the D.A. and police "a power grab."
The Vegas raids were conducted yesterday ... 6 days after the Houston raid. That gave Dr. Murray more than enough notice that the other shoe was about to drop.
The Las Vegas D.A. would not comment. As for the Vegas PD, a spokesman told us "We're not aware of any feud over the action involving this warrant."
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MJ Friend -- He Almost Died During Trial
Michael Jackson had a huge medical scare during his molestation trial -- and according to one friend, a completely freaked out MJ nearly died of dehydration.
Dick Gregory, Jackson's longtime buddy, was on "Nancy Grace" last night, saying he checked in on Michael after getting calls from his parents -- only to find Jacko frantic, crying and saying "They're trying to kill me ... they'll poison me!"
According to Gregory, Jackson was just extremely dehydrated -- and a doc at the hospital he was taken to said if they'd waited 12 more hours for treatment, he would have died.
Michael was on an IV for 12 hours and then released.
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Massive Jackson Investigation into Rx
Dr. Conrad Murray has emerged as the primary target in the death of Michael Jackson -- but law enforcement sources tell us a massive investigation is taking form into what could be fraudulent prescription practices of more than a dozen doctors ... and we're told that number could easily double.
LAPD detectives and members of the L.A. County Coroner's office are gathering info on various doctors who treated Michael Jackson over the years. Subpoenas have been issued, medical files have been taken and conversations with various doctors and their lawyers are taking place.
Jackson has used more than 2 dozen aliases to score drugs, with the help of doctors ... 19 alone are mentioned in the affidavits used to secure search warrants against Dr. Murray.
We're told the prescription practices became so egregious that one prominent pharmacy wouldn't even bother to write the patient's name when a certain doctor called in scripts for Jackson.
Sources say law enforcement is looking at one doctor who used the same anesthesiologist dozens of times to put Jackson under for routine procedures that should not have required sedation.
Law enforcement sources say the Jackson case could be the biggest of its kind when it comes to doctors who enabled celebrity patients to fuel their drug addiction ... and we're told criminal charges could loom large.
Dr. Murray -- Asleep on His Mortgage Payments
More bad news for Dr. Conrad Murray -- the bank is trying to foreclose on his Las Vegas home ... the one that was filled with DEA agents yesterday.
According to the Clark County Recorder's Office, Dr. Murray owes more than $15,000 in back payments to Irwin Union Bank.
Sources tell us Murray recently took out a $1.6 million loan -- but the bank says he stopped paying back in January, and now they have just filed a "Notice of Default" document.
In order to keep the house, Murray not only has to come up with the $15k -- he is also responsible for any possible late fees, unpaid taxes and insurance costs he may have accrued.
Dr. Conrad Murray Looks Cool, Calm, Collected
We've obtained the first video footage of Dr. Conrad Murray since the death of his most famous patient, Michael Jackson.
The footage was shot today outside of Murray's Las Vegas home -- shortly after it was raided by DEA agents.
In the clip you see Dr. Murray looking cool as a cucumber, with a bit of a swagger ... wearing a baseball cap and a button-down shirt.
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DEA on the Hunt for Michael Jackson Aliases
Authorities believe Michael Jackson used at least 19 aliases to score drugs -- including the names of a famous sex symbol and possibly his own son, this according to the Los Angeles Times.
According to the report, the authorities who raided Dr. Conrad Murray's Las Vegas home and office today had a warrant to search for medical records under 19 different names -- including Josephine Baker, Paul Farance, Bryan Singleton, Jimmy Nicholas, Blanca Nicholas, Roselyn Muhammad, Faheem Muhammad, Frank Tyson, Fernand Diaz, Peter Madonie and Kai Chase.
Also listed -- the name of Jackson's son, Prince.
As TMZ first reported Jackson also used the name Michael Armstrong, Jack London, Peter Midani and his personal favorite, Omar Arnold.
Law enforcement sources tell us they found the name Omar Arnold on medical records they took from Jackson's dermatologist, Dr. Arnie Klein.
DEA Agent: Dr. Murray at Home During Search
A DEA agent just spoke to the media outside of Dr. Conrad Murray's office in Las Vegas -- saying Murray was at home the whole time his house was being searched today by a pile of law enforcement agents.
The Assistant Special Agent in Charge said law enforcement officials were now moving on from Murray's home to search his office. The ASAC said the warrants executed this morning were for documents -- meaning anything from papers to computer hard drives.
Stay tuned...
Dr. Murray's Home Searched
DEA and other law enforcement officials have just arrived at the Las Vegas home of Dr. Conrad Murray. They have a search warrant in hand for Michael Jackson's medical records.
UPDATE 3:30 ET: The agents are now leaving Dr. Murray's home.
UPDATE 7:05 ET: Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, just released this statement:
"We can verify that at approximately 8am, Officers from DEA, LAPD and various local agencies began executing a search warrant at Dr. Conrad Murray's Las Vegas home and office. The search warrant authorized investigators to look for medical records relating to Michael Jackson and all of his reported aliases. Dr Murray was present during the search of his home and assisted the officers. Investigators left Dr. Murray's home around 12 noon, seizing cell phones and a computer hard drive. As of 2pm, the search at Dr. Murray's office continues."
Jackson Doctor's Vegas House/Office Raided
The DEA has just arrived at Dr. Conrad Murray's Las Vegas home and office with search warrants in hand.
Sources tell us they are looking for all patient records connected to Michael Jackson.
We're on scene and watched multiple DEA agents walk in the back door of Dr.Murray's home and other agents are at his office.
Story developing...
Cops at Dr. Conrad Murray's House
Cops are at Dr. Conrad Murray's house in Las Vegas right now. We are at Dr. Murray's home and office in Vegas. Expect that a search warrant will be served, similar to the ones served in Houston last week.
Story developing...
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New Raid In Michael Jackson Case
Federal DEA agents served search warrants on Dr. Conrad Murray's Las Vegas home and office today. They're on the hunt for Michael Jackson's medical records, among other things.
Law enforcement sources tell us Dr. Murray confessed to LAPD cops two days after the singer's death ... he administered the powerful anesthesia Propofol to Jackson hours before his death.
We've been reporting for two weeks LAPD detectives believe Dr. Murray administered the fatal dose of Propofol. Our sources say Dr. Murray gave Jackson an IV drip of the drug, which means it seeped into his system over a period of time.
Authorities believe Dr. Murray may have fallen asleep during the IV drip and when he awoke the singer may have already been dead from an overdose of the drug. We're told paramedics found an IV stand with an empty IV bag in the room.
As we have already reported, when cops went back to Jackson's house the Monday after his death, they found a stash of drugs hidden in a closet in the room where Dr. Murray was staying -- including the drug Propofol.
Authorities believe Propofol is the cause of Jackson's death.
DEA Agent: Dr. Murray at Home During Search
A DEA agent just spoke to the media outside of Dr. Conrad Murray's office in Las Vegas -- saying Murray was at home the whole time his house was being searched today by a pile of law enforcement agents.
The Assistant Special Agent in Charge said law enforcement officials were now moving on from Murray's home to search his office. The ASAC said the warrants executed this morning were for documents -- meaning anything from papers to computer hard drives.
Stay tuned...
Rowe Surfaces At Dr. Klein's Office!
How's this for irony? Debbie Rowe just showed up at the Beverly Hills office of her former boss -- Dr. Arnold Klein.
Our sources say Rowe is there to visit Dr. David Rish, who practices in Dr. Klein's office. We're told she has an appointment.
Renaissance Celebs
Hear ye! Hear ye! Wethinks these paintings from Worth1000.com will fetch ye fancy -- so clicketh through 'n swoon at tis paintings done with the freshest of computer softwares!
TMZ's Crazy Pet Pic Contest -- The Finals!
Monkeys and mutts and mice ... oh my! These frightening photos flooded in for our Crazy Pet Pic Contest -- check 'em out ... these animals have faces only their owners can love.
Fiddy's Fortress -- Back on Da Market
50 Cent needs to wave his Magic Stick if he hopes to sell his Connecticut mega-mansion ... he just slashed the price another few million bucks in desperation.
Fiddy says he's fed up with the 2-hour, too long commute to New York City and wants to trade in the 19-bedroom, 37-bath pad for a cut down crib in the city -- it was $18.5 million, then $14.5 million and now it's only $10.9 million.
50 shelled out $4.1 million for the 17-acre estate -- but says he spent $6 million on urgent upgrades like a disco complete with stripper poles.
Hollywood Hogwarts
Whether these "Harry Potter" look-alikes really belong in Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin is up to you -- but check out which celebs really had us seeing double double toil and trouble.
Inside Neverland Ranch
Far from the lavish zoo/theme park/mansion it once was, Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is now a barren, forgotten property that was once fit for a King of Pop.
Dr. Murray to Cops: I Gave Jackson Propofol
We've told you since July 15 police believe Dr. Conrad Murray administered Propofol to Michael Jackson -- the drug that killed him. There's a reason police believe it. Dr. Murray told them.
Two days after Jackson's death, Dr. Murray told LAPD detectives he administered Propofol to the singer hours before he died ... this, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
We're told Dr. Murray gave Jackson an IV drip of the powerful anesthetic. Police believe Dr. Murray simply wasn't paying attention when the singer's heart stopped beating.
Authorities believe Dr. Murray may have actually fallen asleep during the time the drug was administered and may have awakened to find Jackson already dead from heart failure.
An IV drip of Propofol allows a constant, steady infusion of the drug for a period of time determined by the person administering it.
It is considered reckless in the medical community for a doctor to administer an IV drip of Propofol without the patient being monitored by an EKG, which sounds an alarm when the patient's pulse drops too low. No EKG was found in the house.
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Dr. Murray's Storage Unit -- Files May Hold Clue
We've learned the two women who went to a Houston storage facility the day Michael Jackson died and removed boxes had rented the facility just months earlier, in the name of their employer -- Dr. Conrad Murray.
The owners of the facility say the two women filled out a contract on April 1, 2009. They rented a unit in the name of Dr. Conrad Murray's medical practice. Dr. Murray's credit card was used to pay the rent for the unit.
The unit contained boxes, furniture and other items. The two women arrived at 9:22 AM Los Angeles time -- 3 hours before the 911 call from Jackson's home.
The women took 3 - 5 boxes though we do not know what was inside.
The facility has a surveillance camera, but it was broken that day.
Paramedics: Jackson Dead When We Arrived
Law enforcement sources tell us when paramedics arrived at Michael Jackson's house he was already dead ... and it took them a while to even realize the victim was the famous singer.
Our sources say when paramedics got to Jackson's home he was flatlined. There was no electrical activity in his heart and Jackson showed no sign of life.
Multiple sources say paramedics wanted to pronounce Jackson dead at the scene but Dr. Conrad Murray insisted that the singer be transported to the hospital. Dr. Murray -- as a higher medical authority than the EMTs -- had the power to overrule them.
Paramedics didn't realize for nearly 10 minutes the victim was Michael Jackson. As one emergency worker put it: "It just looked like a frail, old, sickly man."
Hidden Drug Stash Found in Jackson's House
Law enforcement sources tell us Dr. Conrad Murray kept a stash of drugs -- including the powerful anesthetic Propofol -- hidden in his closet at Michael Jackson's home.
Sources say when the LAPD first searched Jackson's home the night he died, they did not turn up Propofol or many of the other drugs that were in Jackson's house.
Dr. Murray talked to the LAPD the following Saturday and the information he supplied triggered another, broader search warrant. Cops returned to the house the following Monday and discovered "various drugs" secretly stashed in a closet of the guest room where Dr. Murray was staying.
Here's the amazing thing ...law enforcement sources say Dr. Murray himself told LAPD detectives about the closet when he was interviewed the Saturday after Jackson's death.
One law enforcement source says: "The drugs were concealed...they weren't obvious." Among the stash -- Propofol, the drug authorities believe killed Michael Jackson.