Carrie Fisher Died of Sleep Apnea and Other Undetermined Factors; Cocktail Of Drugs Found In Her System

On Friday, officials revealed that actress Carrie Fisher died of sleep apnea among other factors, but could not determine an absolute cause after an examination.

The actress, who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars film series, died on December 27^th at the age of 60. Three days later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner conducted an autopsy and examination to determine her cause of death. In a news release, the coroner revealed there were signs of “multiple drug intake” and atherosclerotic heart disease, but the examiner could not determine its significance on Fisher’s passing.

“The manner of death has been ruled undetermined,” the statement revealed.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County coroner’s report released additional information about the drugs found in the star’s system at the time of her death. The toxicology review found evidence of cocaine, methadone, MDMA, alcohol, and opiates in Fisher’s system at the time she went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital.  The results also suggested that there was “an exposure to heroin, but that the dose and time of exposure cannot be pinpointed.”

Shortly after the cause of death was released, Fisher’s daughter issued a statement to address her mother’s drug use in the wake of the coroner’s findings.

“My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it,” Billie Lourd said. “She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases.

“She talked about the shame that torments people and their families confronted by these diseases,” she continued. “I know my Mom, she’d want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles. Seek help, fight for government funding for mental health programs. Shame and those social stigmas are the enemies of progress to solutions and ultimately a curse. Love you, Mommy.”