"Glee” star Cory Monteith died as a result of “mixed
drug toxicity” involving heroin and alcohol, the British Columbia Coroners
Service reported Tuesday.
Monteith, 31, was found dead in his room at the Fairmont
Pacific Rim hotel in downtown Vancouver, B.C. on July 13.
“At this point, there is no evidence to suggest Mr.
Monteith’s death was anything other than a most tragic accident,” the Coroners
Service said.
It said post-mortem testing, which included an autopsy and
toxicological analysis, found that Montieth “died of a mixed drug toxicity
involving heroin and alcohol.”
The investigation into his death is continuing and when
completed, the service said it will issue a coroner’s report.
Police said Monteith had been out with people earlier on the
night he died, but video and electronic records from the hotel indicated he
returned to his room by himself.
At a briefing Tuesday
afternoon, police said they believe Monteith had been dead for several hours
before he was found shortly after noon July 13.
They said the report from the
Coroners Service did not indicate the levels of heroin or alcohol in his
system.
They also ruled out foul play.
"Our belief is
that when he took the heroin he was alone," said Vancouver Police
Department spokesman Brian Montague. "There was evidence in the room that
was consistent with a drug overdose.
We're not providing exactly what we found
at the scene."
Monteith had talked bluntly about struggling with addiction
since he was a teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade
magazine in 2011 he was "lucky to be alive."
He admitted himself to a treatment facility in April for
substance addiction, a representative said at the time. He also received
treatment when he was 19.
"Glee," with its catchy song-and-dance numbers and
high-profile guest stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, became an
instant hit when it debuted in 2009. Monteith served as the show's resident
hunk with a heart of gold.
Producers were reported scheduling meetings to discuss how
to move forward with story lines and other issues without Monteith's character,
Finn Hudson. Industry experts say the actor's death will have a profound impact
on the FOX series and pose significant creative challenges.
Gia Milani, who recently produced and directed a Canadian
film featuring Monteith, this week said Monteith "seemed healthy"
when she last saw him four weeks ago in Los Angeles.
"He looked super fit and he was energetic and
excited," Milani said.
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