Hollywood Today) 10/14/07 – Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the pharmacy, Anna Nicole Smith’s overdose death is back as both a Hollywood cautionary tale and media magnet.
In an investigation launched by Attorney General Jerry Brown, California’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement of the Department of Justice served several warrants yesterday against physicians and pharmacies linked to the accidental drug overdose and death of 39-year old Anna Nicole Smith.
Brown opened the investigation on March 30, 2007 after learning that the drugs involved in Smith’s death were prescribed by a gaggle of doctors and dispensed by pharmacies practicing in the state of California. Smith resided in L.A. before moving to the Bahamas to allegedly avoid Larry Birkhead’s paternity claim as father to baby Danielynn Hope Marshall.
The searches were carried out in both Los Angeles and Orange counties “related to doctors who provided medical treatment or prescribed drugs for Anna Nicole Smith or her associates,” said Brown.
During yesterday’s conference Brown declined to reveal specific details of the case or what he was looking for, but stressed to reporters that “playing with dangerous drugs” can result in death and “prescribing drugs illegally is a crime,” he asserted, adding that people should “put it together.”
“We do know from the public record that there’s someone who’s dead and her body, upon investigation, is full of controlled substances and combinations of drugs that turned out to be illegal,” Brown said.
One of the warrants was issued for both the home and office of Smith’s former psychiatrist Dr. Khristine Eroshevich. Longtime Smith companion and attorney Howard K. Stern was placed at the home in question during the time of the search, according to the AP.
The Medical Board of California already had an active investigation into Eroshevich, who prescribed a bevy of drugs for Anna five days after beloved son Daniel died.
Following Anna’s death several individuals linked to the controversial model have been scrutinized regarding the case, including Smith’s past San Fernando Valley neighbor and psychiatrist Eroshevich.
Agents from the Justice department answered the door at Eroshevich’s offices Friday morning, but declined to comment on why they were there. They said the doctor was not in and provided a phone number for the department’s spokesperson, who had no immediate comment.
In April 2007 the California Medical Board said it was actively investigating Eroshevich. According to documents, the doctor is shown to have authorized all 11 prescription medications confiscated in Anna’s hotel room on the day she died. Eroshevich had reportedly traveled with Smith to Florida.
The medical board also opened an inquiry to determine whether Dr. Sandeep Kapoor committed any misconduct in the case.
Kapoor also reportedly prescribed methadone to Anna. Ellyn Garafalo, an attorney for Kapoor confirmed that the doctor’s home and offices were among those raided, but declined to comment further said the AP.
Although search warrants were served, no arrests were made yesterday, said Brown. He added, “You don’t go to a judge and get a search warrant for somebody’s home unless you think some rather serious crime has been committed.”
Asked whether the probe would include the death of Smith’s son Daniel Smith, Brown said: “We’re not setting any limits on this investigation.”
Smith died on February 8, 2007 while traveling with longtime companion and attorney Howard K. Stern. She died in her hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
After Smith’s death, police discovered more than 600 pills, including 450 muscle relaxants, which were unaccounted for from prescriptions no more than five-weeks old, according to documents obtained by the AP through a public records request.
Daniel died a few days before his baby sister was born and less than five months before his mother Anna. Authorities also blamed Daniel’s death on a combination of drugs including methadone and antidepressants.
An attorney for Stern said Anna took sleeping aids to cope with the grief over Daniel’s abrupt death in the Bahamian hospital where she gave birth to Danielynn.
Brown said he did not know at this time if the probe would lead to an exhumation of Smith’s body buried in Bahamian territory. Brown said investigators learned “quite a lot” from Bahamian authorities, but declined to elaborate, keeping mum for the sanctity of the ongoing investigation.
Methadone is a popular narcotic painkiller that is used as part of drug addiction detoxification and maintenance programs. Methadone overdoses can cause shallow breathing and dangerous changes in heartbeat.
A call to Eroshevich’s attorney, Gary Lincenberg, was not immediately returned. However, he told KNBC-TV that the investigation only centered on whether Eroshevich’s prescriptions followed state law regarding controlled substances.
“This has nothing to do with whether or not Dr. Eroshevich in any way contributed to Anna Nicole Smith’s death,” Lincenberg said.
The attorney general said agents have so far reviewed more than 100,000 computer images and files and analyzed numerous patient profiles, pharmacy logs and have interviewed witnesses throughout the country and abroad.
Stern initially claimed to be Dannielynn’s father until Smith’s ex-boyfriend Birkhead proved through DNA testing that he was the father of Danielynn. He is now raising the adorable little girl back in his home state Kentucky.
Birkhead and Stern have been the subjects of tabloid fodder for years, escalating to a new high after the baby drama unfolded prior to Anna’s death. Now, the two are the subject of Rita Cosby’s tell-all book “Blonde Ambition; The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith.” Birkhead and Stern have vowed to sue Cosby for allegations made in the book.
The baby stands to inherit millions, maybe a half a billion, from the estate of Smith’s late husband and Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II if she wins her long-running lawsuit against his other family heirs. A judge has appointed Birkhead guardian of the estate.
http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/?p=2486
Statement From California Attorney Brown Regarding Search Warrants Executed Today
October 12, 2007
07-068
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(916) 324-5500
Statement From California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. Regarding Search Warrants Executed Today In Connection With The Death Of Anna Nicole Smith:
“The California Department of Justice today served search warrants at various doctors’ offices, billing locations, and residences in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, related to the death of Anna Nicole Smith. The locations searched today are related to doctors who provided medical treatment or prescribed drugs for Anna Nicole Smith or her associates.
On March 30, 2007, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement commenced an investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of Anna Nicole Smith, including the prescribing and dispensing practices of several California licensed doctors and pharmacies. To date, agents have reviewed over 100,000 computer images and files, analyzed patient profiles and pharmacy logs and interviewed witnesses throughout the country and abroad.
The California Department of Justice is spearheading this investigation with regulatory agencies, medical professionals and law enforcement agencies, including: The California Department of Insurance, the California Medical Board, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seminole Tribal Police and the Royal Bahamian Police Force.
In view of the fact that the investigation is ongoing, we will not provide further details or report any findings at this time. The California Department of Justice will conduct a fair and thorough investigation and wishes to protect the identity of cooperating witnesses. When our investigation is complete, you will be provided as much information as possible about any suspects, arrests or criminal charges.
Beyond this statement, no one involved in this investigation will have further comment at this time. Thank you for your cooperation.”
http://caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/release.php?id=1480