Michael Jackson‘s sudden death on June 25, 2009, gripped the world, and years later, his final words have been revealed.
ackson, dubbed the King of Pop, is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, known for hit songs such as ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Rock With You.’
During his four-decade-long career, he contributed to music, dance, and fashion, as well as making headlines for his personal life.
Fans were left devastated when in 2009, it was announced that Jackson had died at age 50 while preparing for his comeback tour, This Is It.
The ‘Smooth Criminal’ singer’s death was ruled a homicide, with his passing being the result of a lethal combination of prescription drugs, per ABC News.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office released a statement saying Jackson had died because of acute propofol intoxication.
The primary drugs responsible for the King of Pop’s death were propofol and lorazepam, with the office citing the benzodiazepine effect as another condition contributing to his passing.
It was also noted that other prescription drugs were in his system: midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine, and ephedrine.
Jackson’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, told investigators he had been treating the singer for several weeks and was attempting to wean him off propofol by administering prescription sedatives including lorazepam and midazolam.
Murray would stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and he issued a plea of not guilty, stating in court (per BBC): “I am an innocent man.”
He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in November 2011 and given a four-year sentence.
However, he would serve just two years of his sentence.
During Murray’s trial, the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor stated: “This is a crime where the end result was the death of a human being.
“That factor demonstrates rather dramatically that the public should be protected.”
Murray’s medical licenses in Texas, California, and Nevada were suspended following his conviction, per People.
He opened up his own medical institute in El Socorro, San Juan, in 2023.
Jackson’s former physician addressed his professional reputation at the opening of his new facility.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, he said: “When I came back to Trinidad, most of the colleagues whom I had trained felt that I was too much of a threat to be present, when all I was willing to do was to collaborate, further educate and instill care for more and more.
“So they decided to eventfully lock the doors when they saw the cases I was performing.”
He continued: “It was tough. I dealt with the country locking its borders for two years but I did not give up. I felt that I had to be relentless.”
During Murray’s trial, details would emerge about Jackson’s final moments.
There have been conflicting reports regarding the singer’s final words, however, Murray claims the King of Pop made two statements before his death.
He suggested the singer pleaded for ‘milk’ – an alleged propofol nickname due to its opaque and milky appearance.
Murray claimed (per the Los Angeles Times): “He [Jackson] said, ‘Please, please, give him some milk so that I can sleep, because I know that this is all that really works for me.’
“Hot milk or warm or just…”
Murray claimed he was concerned by this, to which Jackson allegedly responded: “Just make me sleep, doesn’t matter what time I get up.”
The physician said he then agreed to ‘switch over to the propofol,’ administering half the dose he usually would, having told detectives he ‘took all precautions that were available.’
Murray said he left the singer’s bedside for two minutes to go to the bathroom and when he returned, he found his patient no longer breathing.
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