Whitney Houston’s Tragic Demise: Autopsy Reveals Drowning in Hot Water

The final autopsy report on the death of Whitney Houston has revealed that she drowned face down in a tub filled with “extremely hot water” that was about 12 inches deep.

The Los Angeles County coroner concluded that her passing on February 11 was an accidental drowning, with underlying factors of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.

While the coroner's report did not provide specific details of the events leading to Houston's death, experts have weighed in on possible scenarios.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction medicine specialist, suggested that cocaine use combined with alcohol withdrawal and a prescription sedative may have triggered a seizure in Houston.

Although an empty bottle of Xanax was found in her room, the level of the sedative in her blood was relatively low.

Additionally, while empty beer bottles were discovered, no alcohol was detected in her system.

Pinsky indicated that the sudden decrease in Xanax levels, along with cocaine use, could have increased the likelihood of a seizure.

Toxicologist Henry Spiller countered this theory by stating that the amount of Xanax found in Houston's blood was insufficient to induce a seizure.

He mentioned that individuals who abuse Xanax might consume up to 20 pills daily, whereas Houston likely took four to six pills several hours before her death.

The autopsy report highlighted that Houston had minor scald burns on her face at the time of her demise.

Pinsky noted that the slight heart disease found during the examination should not have been fatal.

Spiller speculated that Houston may have experienced a seizure or cardiac arrhythmia due to her cocaine use.

An arrhythmia can lead to a temporary halt in proper heart function, causing unconsciousness and oxygen deprivation to the brain, potentially resulting in death.

The toxicology report revealed a moderate level of cocaine in Houston's blood, indicating recent ingestion before her passing.

Detectives discovered drug paraphernalia, including a spoon with a white substance and remnants of a powdery substance, in the bathroom where she drowned.

While various medications were found in her hotel room, the coroner determined that prescription drugs did not contribute to her death.

Besides cocaine, traces of other substances like marijuana, Xanax, Flexeril, and Benadryl were also detected in her body.

Houston was last seen alive by her assistant in her Beverly Hilton hotel room, who found her unresponsive in the bathtub upon returning to the room.

Despite efforts by paramedics to revive her, Houston was pronounced dead shortly after being discovered.

With a career marked by musical success and personal struggles, Houston's untimely demise serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of substance abuse.