David Carradine died of asphyxiation: pathologist

[A*O]

Pretty much what everyone guessed.

David Carradine died of asphyxiation: pathologist
July 3, 2009 - 8:02AM


The medical examiner who oversaw a private autopsy on David Carradine said on Wednesday that the Kung Fu star died from asphyxiation and the way the actor's body was bound allowed him to rule out suicide.

Carradine was found hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel suite on June 4 and his family hired New York-based forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to conduct a follow-up death investigation to the one handled by Thai authorities.

Baden had earlier said the actor's death was not a suicide, but details of autopsies have been scant and on Wednesday Baden stressed that his full determination of how Carradine died will not be ready until at least a week.

`"The cause of death was asphyxiation, an inability to breathe, now why that happened is still what we're working on," Baden told Reuters.

Authorities in Thailand conducted the first autopsy on Carradine shortly after his death, and said on June 8 it would take a month to know how he died. A Thai police colonel told Reuters early in the probe the likely cause of death was asphyxiation.

Baden, the host of cable channel HBO's Autopsy series, also said the ligatures, or ties that bind, which were on Carradine's body at the time of his death helped him rule out suicide.

"He didn't die of natural causes, and he didn't die of suicidal causes from the nature of the ligatures around the body, so that leaves some kind of accidental death," he said.

The media has suggested Carradine could have died from accidental autoerotic asphyxiation. In response to a question on that topic, Baden did not rule out that possibility, but he also did not say autoerotic asphyxiation was the cause.

Contradicting media reports saying Carradine's hands were tied behind his back, Baden told Reuters the actor's hands were above his head.

A representative for Carradine's brothers said the family had no comment on preliminary results of the second autopsy.

Baden, who oversaw a second autopsy in the United States after Carradine's body was flown to Los Angeles from Bangkok, said he is awaiting more information from Thai police to rule out the possibility that Carradine was killed by someone.

Baden said he wants to see data from the pass keys for the hotel where Carradine died, and security video to ensure no one was in the room with him at the time.

The forensic pathologist said he is not disappointed with how long it has taken Thai authorities to send him material for his death investigation. "It takes time to finish a case sometimes, so it's not unexpected," he said.

Reuters

[sputnik]

the fact that his hands were tied makes me think he wasn't alone. my money is on a thai hooker being involved. the sexy times went bad and she/he bailed.

[A*O]

Yeah - that would be my bet too.

[JadeStar70]

I agree.

If they find out who was with him,...will that person be in trouble for assisting in his death? Or will they just be in trouble for not requesting help and leaving the scene of an emergency?

[Soth]

At least his kidneys were intact and he wasnt in an ice bath I guess

[buttmunch]

Originally Posted by sputnik

the fact that his hands were tied makes me think he wasn't alone. my money is on a thai hooker being involved. the sexy times went bad and she/he bailed.

Yup.

[NicoleWasHere]

Murder?

[rollo]

Well, I still think fun and games (so to speak) but by himself.

[MoodyJenny86]

Duh.

When my mom first broke the news to me she said he was found hanged.

My first thought was...suicide but when she told me he was found naked I immediately thought 'auto-erotic asphyxiation?'

[Charlieboy]

I have a hard time believing he would to this alone, wihout some kind f safety outlet. What a thing to explain to his kids.