Cory Monteith Cause Of Death A Lethal Mix Of Alcohol And Heroin, Coroner Rules
Cory Monteith died from a lethal combination of alcohol and heroin, a coroner in Vancouver ruled on Monday.
The Glee actor was found dead Saturday afternoon in a Vancouver hotel room, but authorities said there was no apparent cause of death. An autopsy conducted Monday found that his death was caused by what the BC Coroners Service called a “mixed drug toxity” of heroin and alcohol.
“At this point there is no evidence to suggest Mr. Monteith’s death was anything other than a most-tragic accident,” the BC Coroners Service says in a statement released Tuesday.
The Coroners Service noted that Monteith’s family had been notified of the circumstances of Cory’s death.
“On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time,” the service added.
Cory Monteith had been open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, saying he was so mired in addiction that he dropped out of high school at age 16 and stole money from family members to get high.
At age 19 family members staged an intervention, which Monteith said allowed him to see how far he had fallen.
“I’m lucky on so many counts –- I’m lucky to be alive,” Monteith said in 2011. “I stole a significant amount of money from a family member. I knew I was going to get caught, but I was so desperate I didn’t care.”
Cory Monteith then entered rehab, and appeared to have his life and his career in order.
But the Glee star announced earlier this year that he was returning to rehab to address his addiction issues. Though the departure would cause him to miss filming on the season’s final two episodes of the show, Monteith left with the full support of the show’s producers.
“Cory is a beloved member of the Glee family and we fully support his decision to seek treatment,” said 20th Century Fox, the show’s producer, in a statement. “Everyone at the show wishes him well and looks forward to his return.”
The BC Coroners Service gave no further details on the cause of death for Cory Monteith.
