Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer Elvis Presley, died on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54. Her death shocked and saddened her fans and family, who were left wondering what caused her sudden demise. Now, months after her death, the results of her toxicology report and autopsy have been released, shedding some light on the circumstances surrounding her death.
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Small Bowel Obstruction: The Official Cause of Death
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office, Lisa Marie Presley died of natural causes from sequelae of small bowel obstruction. This means that her small intestine was blocked by scar tissue that formed after a weight-loss surgery she had several years ago. This condition can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, infection, and even death if not treated promptly.
The autopsy report stated that the small bowel obstruction caused cardiac arrest, which was the immediate cause of death. The report also noted that this was a known long-term complication of bariatric surgery, which is a type of surgery that reduces the size of the stomach or bypasses part of the small intestine to help people lose weight.
Opioids and Other Medications in Her System
The toxicology report revealed that Lisa Marie Presley had opioids and other medications in her system at the time of her death. However, the report stated that these drugs did not contribute to her death.
The report found therapeutic levels of oxycodone in her blood. Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller that can be addictive and cause respiratory depression in high doses. The report also detected buprenorphine, another opioid that can be used to treat pain or opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is often combined with naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of opioids in case of an overdose.
Additionally, the report found traces of quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication that can be used to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression. Quetiapine can cause drowsiness, low blood pressure, and weight gain as side effects.
Sources told Entertainment Tonight that Lisa Marie Presley had a history of overmedicating and struggled with substance abuse for years. However, they also said that she was sober for the past few years and was trying to overcome her addiction.
A Tragic Loss for Her Family and Fans
Lisa Marie Presley was buried next to her son Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020 at the age of 27. Benjamin was one of Lisa Marie’s four children from her first marriage to musician Danny Keough. She also had a daughter named Riley Keough, who is an actress and model. Lisa Marie had three other marriages to pop star Michael Jackson, actor Nicolas Cage, and musician Michael Lockwood.
Lisa Marie Presley followed in her father’s footsteps as a singer and songwriter. She released three albums over the course of her career and collaborated with artists such as Elvis Costello, Pink, and Richard Marx. She also inherited her father’s estate and was involved in various charitable causes.
Her mother, Priscilla Presley, filed a legal challenge to Lisa Marie’s will after her death. She claimed that she was unaware of a 2016 amendment that removed her as a trustee overseeing Lisa Marie’s estate. Instead, the amendment named Benjamin and Riley as co-trustees. The legal dispute was settled in May 2023, but the details were never made public.
Lisa Marie Presley’s death was a tragic loss for her family and fans who loved her for her music and personality. She will always be remembered as the daughter of Elvis Presley and a talented artist in her own right.
