Philip Seymour Hoffman Autopsy Results: Massive Overdose

[Bob Juch]

Alexandra Cheney
Senior Film Reporter
@alexandracheney
Philip Seymour Hoffman died of acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine, the New York City chief medical examiner’s office has determined.

The death was ruled an accident.

Police had been investigating his death as a suspected drug overdose.

Law enforcement officials have said Hoffman was found Feb. 2 with a needle in his arm, and tests found heroin in samples from at least 50 packets in his Manhattan apartment.

The 46-year-old star of “Capote” and “The Master” said in interviews last year that he had sought treatment for a heroin problem after 23 years of sobriety.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

With such huge quantities of drugs I say he committed suicide.

[silverscreenselect]

With such huge quantities of drugs I say he committed suicide.

Legally, there is a presumption against suicide. This may be an issue if he took out an insurance policy in the last two years, as happened with Heath Ledger. Without a suicide note, evidence of previous attempts, or statements by Hoffman indicating a suicidal frame of mind, it would be very difficult to prove. He was supposedly looking forward to returning to Atlanta to finish filming the next Hunger Games movie.

[Bob Juch]

With such huge quantities of drugs I say he committed suicide.

Legally, there is a presumption against suicide. This may be an issue if he took out an insurance policy in the last two years, as happened with Heath Ledger. Without a suicide note, evidence of previous attempts, or statements by Hoffman indicating a suicidal frame of mind, it would be very difficult to prove. He was supposedly looking forward to returning to Atlanta to finish filming the next Hunger Games movie.

I know the legal presumption but if he had administered those to a friend he'd be accused of murder.

[silverscreenselect]

I know the legal presumption but if he had administered those to a friend he'd be accused of murder.

Depending on the law in a particular state, various degrees of negligent or reckless conduct that result in another person's death could result in charges ranging from manslaughter (or negligent homicide) to second degree murder. However, suicide has to be an intentional act, and the presumption against suicide is strong, especially in insurance cases.

The idiot who shot himself while "demonstrating" gun safety would not have an insurance policy invalidated due to suicide, but if he had shot his girlfriend in the same way, he would have been charged with murder.