Pop star Michael Jackson's death has been ruled a homicide from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and other drugs, and police will refer the case to prosecutors for possible criminal charges, officials said Friday. The coroner's ruling fueled speculation that his doctor may face a criminal charge of manslaughter or worse. The Los Angeles County Coroner said in a statement that propofol and the sedative lorazepam were the primary drugs responsible for Jackson's June 25 death at the age of 50. Other drugs found in the singer's body were midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine. Separately, the Los Angeles Police Department said its investigation was continuing but that police were referring the case to prosecutors for possible criminal charges. Jackson, whose “Thriller” CD remains the best-selling album of all time, died suddenly after suffering cardiac arrest in a rented Los Angeles mansion only weeks before he was to begin a series of comeback concerts. Houston-based doctor Conrad Murray was hired to care for the singer while he prepared for the concerts, and he was at Jackson's bedside the day he died. Murray has admitted to police that he administered propofol, which is generally used in surgery, to help Jackson sleep. In court documents, police have said Murray is the subject of a manslaughter investigation but officials have also looked into care provided to Jackson by other doctors who may have prescribed other drugs to him. A spokesman for Murray's lawyer had no immediate comment. The list of drugs in Jackson's system reads like a cocktail of sedatives, painkillers and one stimulant. Midazolam is a sedative similar to propofol, used to make patients drowsy but not unconscious during procedures such as colonoscopies. Diazepam, the generic version of Valium, is used to calm anxiety, while lidocaine is a painkiller and ephedrine is a stimulant. The coroner said the complete toxicology report remained sealed at the request of the Los Angeles police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney. A spokesman for Jackson's family issued a statement Friday saying the family commended the actions of the coroner and other law enforcement groups and “looks forward to the day that justice can be served.”
