Medical Examiner: Bobbi Kristina Brown's death due to drug intoxication
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - We now know Bobbi Kristina Brown's face being immersed in water, along with drug intoxication, led to her death last year.
Friday morning, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office released a statement about the findings of the autopsy on Bobbi Kristina following a court order on Thursday. The office said it reviewed medical records, investigative files and other documents to determine how Brown likely died. Marijuana and alcohol were involved in the death, along with medications used for sedation or to treat anxiety.
Click here to view the statement from the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office
At this time, a medical examiner has not determined if Bobbi Kristina's death was an accident or intentional. It has been classified as "undetermined."
App Users: Watch the full video report here
The 22-year-old was found non-responsive, face down in her Roswell condo back in January of 2015. Brown's boyfriend, Nick Gordon, and a friend were in the house when it happened. No one has been arrested, but the Fulton County District Attorney's Office told a judge the investigation into the mysterious death is still "active."
Bobby Brown, Bobbi Kristina's father, released a statement Friday, on what would have been his daughter's 23rd birthday. The statement, in part, said:
“First and foremost, 23 years ago today, Bobbi Kristina was born. Krissy will always live in my heart and soul. I love my baby girl."
Brown's attorney, Christopher Brown, said his client has had to be strong and mourn his loved ones in a fashion that is "foreign to most people."
So public, so raw, with apparently no end in sight. Hopefully public indictments and prosecution will lead to private healing and closure for Bobby Brown and his family," Christopher Brown said.
Thursday, ahead of the autopsy findings being released, Assistant District Attorney Paige Whittaker told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk releasing the autopsy would jeopardize the police investigation.
"It is because our investigation is still ongoing and no arrests have been made in this case. So to release that autopsy information from the autopsy and related documents could compromise the investigation's integrity," Whittaker said.
Judge Newkirk pointed out that the state has had 13 months to investigate the case. The judge sided with media attorneys who said the public has a right to know.
"Back in January, we know from a briefing the DA released a significant report on the growing heroin epidemic in metro Atlanta. That of course is a matter of significant public interest not just to the public citizens of this state, but to the DA as well. If Ms. Brown's death is related to this epidemic then releasing the autopsy report could bring valuable sunshine to the problem." said attorney S. Derek Bauer, who argued for the release of the autopsy.