Elvis Presley, the famous music icon, died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 42 years old at the time. Following the death of the King of Rock and Roll, legions of mourning fans descended on Graceland to his Memphis mansion. Doctors believe he died of a heart attack caused by his addiction to prescription barbiturates. But do you know what authorities found in his Autopsy?
Morphine, Demerol, chlorpheniramine, Placidyl, Valium, codeine, Ethinamate, quaaludes; an unidentified barbiturate, diazepam, Amytal, Nembutal, Carbrital, Sinutab, Elavil, Avenal, and Valmid were discovered during Elvis’ autopsy.
Was Elvis Presley’s Initial Cause of Death Findings Accurate?
The official coroner’s report lists cardiac arrhythmia as the cause of Presley’s death, but this was later revealed to be a ruse devised by the Presley family and autopsy doctors Dr. Jerry T. Francisco, Dr. Eric Muirhead, Dr. Noel Florredo to conceal the true cause of death, a cocktail of prescribed drugs taken in doses no doctor would normally have prescribed.
They included the painkillers morphine and Demerol; chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine; the tranquilizers Placidyl and Valium; codeine, an opiate; Ethinamate, which was prescribed at the time as a sleeping pill; quaaludes; and an unidentified barbiturate or depressant.
In the context of the coroner’s report, the term cardiac arrhythmia refers to nothing more than a stopped heart. The report initially attempted to link the arrhythmia to cardiovascular disease, but Elvis’ physician has stated that Presley did not have such chronic issues at the time. Most of Elvis’ numerous health issues have been linked to his rampant prescription drug abuse.
Elvis had gone to the dentist the day before he died to have a temporary crown installed. It has been suggested that the codeine given to him by the dentist that day caused anaphylactic shock, which contributed to his death. He had previously experienced allergic reactions to the drug. (Source: Live About)
Elvis Presley’s Addiction to Painkillers
Dr. Nick was charged by the Tennessee Board of Health, and evidence presented at the hearings revealed that he had prescribed thousands of doses of medication to Elvis. The doctor claimed in his defense that he prescribed the painkillers to keep Elvis from seeking out illegal street drugs and to help him control his addiction. (Source: Live About)
Elvis Presley and His Legacy in Graceland
Elvis paid $102,500 for Graceland, the Memphis mansion that served as his home base for two decades, in 1957. It was built in 1939 by Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife Ruth on land that was once part of a 500-acre farm dubbed Graceland after the original owner’s daughter, Grace, who was Ruth Moore’s great-aunt.
The Moores’ white-columned home became known as Graceland, and when Elvis bought it, he kept the name.
Over the years, the entertainer made several changes to the property, including installing music-themed iron entrance gates, a jungle room with an indoor waterfall, and a racquetball building. Elvis was inspired to have a wall of built-in TVs installed in his home after learning that President Lyndon Johnson enjoyed watching all three network news programs simultaneously. He Was later buried in Graceland too. (Source: Live About)