LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Billy Mays's wife, Deborah, says a review performed by an independent medical examiner suggests cocaine use was not a factor in the TV pitchman's death.
Mays died in June at the age of 50. The Hillsborough County )Fla.) Medical Examiner said an autopsy its office conducted indicated cocaine was a "contributing cause" of death, along with hypertensive and arteriosclerotic heart disease.
TMZ quoted Deborah Mays as saying she and her family commissioned a second review of the autopsy results and independent medical examiner Dr. William L. Manion concluded "chronic cocaine use was not demonstrated by the autopsy findings of Mr. William Mays."
"In addition, there is nothing in his medical, social or professional history to suggest chronic cocaine use," said the statement issued by the widow on behalf of the physician to the entertainment news Web site Thursday. "Therefore, I do not believe cocaine played a significant contributing factor in the death of Mr. Mays as the autopsy specimens and findings are not consistent with the cardiac conditions normally observed in a person chronically using cocaine."
