Autopsy starts after Prince dies suddenly
Print Edition
AN autopsy began yesterday to determine what caused the death of the iconic musician Prince, though officials said it could take days or even weeks before results are publicly released.
Prince was found unresponsive Thursday morning in an elevator at his suburban Minneapolis compound. The local sheriff said deputies responded to a medical call at 9:43am that morning but that first-responders couldn’t revive the 57-year-old musician. He was pronounced dead at 10:07am.
The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office was handling the autopsy, but the agency doesn’t plan to release any preliminary information, agency spokeswoman Martha Weaver said yesterday. She said it could take several days or even weeks for tests to be completed and the office will wait to release findings until all the information is in.
Prince had canceled concerts in Atlanta because he wasn’t feeling well. He performed a makeup concert on April 14 in that city, apologizing to the crowd shortly after coming on stage for the earlier cancellation.
While talking to the crowd between songs, he joked about having been “under the weather,” giving a slight smile. His voice seemed a bit weak at times when he spoke, but he sounded fine when singing during the 80-minute show, which featured “Nothing Compares 2 U” and his finale, “Baby, I’m A Star.”
He sat at his piano for most of the show, but stood up at times to pound the keys and walked around the piano a couple of times, soaking up cheers.
Prince had struggled with hip problems and childhood epilepsy. His former percussionist, Sheila E., told ABC’s “Good Morning America” yesterday that Prince damaged his hips while performing, saying he jumped off risers while wearing high heels during his “Purple Rain” days and that “it damaged parts of his body.” Prince was seen in recent years using a cane.
Prince revealed in a 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley that he was “born epileptic” and had seizures when he was young. It’s unclear if his epilepsy carried into adulthood.
Prince, a Jehovah’s Witness, had a reputation for clean living. In 2009, he told an interviewer with the New York Times he didn’t do drugs “or I’d give you a joint” to share while they listened to music.
After the Atlanta performance, Prince hosted a dance party on April 16 at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota.
Jeremiah Freed, who got to know Prince after writing about him over the years, said he believed Prince held the party to show everyone he was fine.
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