Lindsey Pearlman Shocking Cause of Death Determined Months After Passing: Was Foul Play Involved?
Lindsey Pearlman's cause of death has been confirmed months after she was found by Los Angeles police.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office recently listed Pearlman's cause of death after initially deferring it months ago. The findings were finalized after the actress's body was found in a vehicle near Runyon Canyon Park on February 18.
As quoted by Deadline, the coroner's office detailed that her manner of death was a suicide while the cause of death was sodium nitrate toxicity. After the development, her case status has been listed as "closed."
Several studies recently noted the emerging trend of the use of sodium nitrite in suicides. The National Capital Poison Center's Poison Control explains that overexposure to the compound can lead to a condition called methemoglobinemia.
It happens when the body is deprived of oxygen.
Before the recent update, the office had already conducted an autopsy after finding her body at that time. However, the cause of death was deferred.
The spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County coroner's office Sarah Ardalani (via Fox LA), said, "Deferred means that after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined, and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation into the death, including additional studies. Once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and makes the cause of death determination," she explained.
Meanwhile, additional information regarding the report, which was obtained by PEOPLE, noted that the office also found "non-toxic levels of lorazepam, metoclopramide, and codeine" in the actress's system.
What Happened To Lindsey Pearlman?
Pearlman's family initially submitted a missing person report as they had not seen the "Empire" star since February 13.
After asking the public for help, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that she had been found dead following a call for a death investigation.
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"Today around 8:30 a.m., Hollywood Area officers responded to a radio call for a death investigation at Franklin Avenue and North Sierra Bonita Avenue. The L.A. County Coroner's Office has since confirmed the individual to be Lindsey Erin Pearlman. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner," the LAPD said.
According to her cousin, Savannah Pearlman, the actress' phone was last pinged on Sunset Blvd. They were still able to ask everyone's help to find Pearlman.
She also seemingly hinted at Pearlman's potential suicide at that time by sharing the National Suicide Hotline and telling the followers that "they are never truly alone."
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