Could be. Probably lazy research on the part of the reporter. "Hey! This guy knew the and he died, TOO!" You know how they all want to the the first to break a story.
the=them
So true. Yesterday as the story was actually breaking and they didn't know if she died or not, one news station reported that Anna was in the hospital and will be released tomorrow.....(that she'll be fine). Then not 10 minutes later they said she was dead.