Rodney King’s death was ruled accidental in an autopsy report released todayby the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office, which also noted he had marijuana, cocaine and alcohol in his system.
The report summarized the events leading to his June 17 death at age 47 in his backyard pool in Rialto, California.
King “was in a state of drug and alcohol induced delirium,” according to the coroner’s report.
He “either fell or jumped into the swimming pool,” the report said. “The effects of the drugs and alcohol, combined with the subject’s heart condition, thus incapacitated, was unable to save himself and drowned.”
King’s fiancée, Cynthia Kelley, found him in the deep end of the pool at 5:25 a.m. and called 911. She made several attempts to pull him out of the pool but was unable to save him. He was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he died.
Rialto police said the preliminary investigation suggested the drowning was accidental and that there were no signs of trauma or foul play.
Kelley told police that King he had been out all weekend with a male friend, but police said at the time they did not know if King and his friend had been partying all night.
During a press conference announcing the death, police technicians could be seen bringing out a marijuana plant from inside King’s home. (NBC)
