Law Enforcement Official: Jackson’s Doctor Administered Anesthetic Believed To Have Killed Him

A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation into Michael Jackson’s death says the pop star’s personal doctor administered the powerful drug that authorities believe killed him.

Jackson regularly received the anesthetic propofol to go to sleep. The official, who requested anonymity because the probe is ongoing, told The Associated Press on Monday that Dr. Conrad Murray gave Jackson the drug the last night of his life.

Murray was with Jackson when he died June 25 and has been identified in court papers as the subject of a manslaughter investigation.

Murray’s lawyer has said the doctor didn’t prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Jackson.

Private Family Funeral Set For Michael Jackson

The private family funeral for Jackson will be held on Tuesday morning, prior to the public service at Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7.

No details were available on the location of the private funeral. However, several reports have suggested that Michael will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, who will produce the Jackson memorial at Staples Center,The public service would not be an extravagant tribute concert.

“It will be a memorial service reflecting the dignity of what the family wants,” Ehrlich said. “It will be a fitting memorial to Michael Jackson – no dance numbers.”

However, Ehrlich did say the service would include “some types of performances.”

Police Looking To Speak With Jackson Nurse Over Powerful Drug Found In Singer’s Home

Police are looking to speak with Michael Jackson’s nurse about a powerful drug found in the singer’s home at the time of his death.

According to NBC’s Dateline, authorities want to speak with Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who worked for the star, who has said Jackson asked her for Diprivan – also known as Propofol.

The drug, which is typically administered intravenously, is used in hospitals to induce rapid unconsciousness before medical procedures. According to Dateline, the drug is now a focus of the investigation surrounding the star’s death.

Lee previously stated that she received a frantic phone call from a member of Jackson’s staff, just four days before his death.

“He called and was very frantic and said, `Michael needs to see you right away.’ I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ And I could hear Michael in the background …, ‘One side of my body is hot, it’s hot, and one side of my body is cold. It’s very cold,’” Lee told the Associated Press. “I said, ‘Tell him he needs to go the hospital. I don’t know what’s going on, but he needs to go to the hospital … right away.

“At that point, I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system,” she added. “He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out.”

Jackson suffered cardiac arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles on June 25. He was pronounced dead later that day.

However, Lee noted Jackson wasn’t looking to get high from the powerful drug – but rather, find some relief from a reported bout with insomnia.

“He wasn’t looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs,” Lee told the AP. “This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest.”

However, because the drug is so powerful, medical officials have stated accidental death due to overdose can occur.

If someone takes too much of the drug, it can stop a person’s breathing. According to Dr. John Dombrowski, a member of the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, an overdose from Propofol that stops breathing can result in a build up of carbon dioxide, causing the heart to bear erratically and leading to cardiac arrest.

Carradine Family Takes Action On Death Investigation, Photos

David Carradine’s family members, dissatisfied with Thai investigators and “profoundly disturbed” by the publication of a forensics photo in a Bangkok tabloid, are seeking help from the FBI and an independent pathologist and have threatened legal action against any media outlet that reprints images of the actor in death.

Keith Carradine has filed reports with the FBI that could lead to the agency’s involvement, said Mark Geragos, attorney for the “Kung Fu” actor’s half-brother. The FBI confirmed that Carradine’s family had contacted the agency.

The family will also seek an independent autopsy by famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to determine whether another person could have been involved, Geragos said. Results of an autopsy performed Friday in Bangkok were not expected for at least three weeks.

A chambermaid found Carradine’s body Thursday at Bangkok’s Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel. Thai authorities said they have all but ruled out foul play, based on surveillance footage and interviews with hotel staff that indicate no one was in Carradine’s room before he died, said Col. Somprasong Yenthuam, who is heading the investigation.

A grainy photo published on the Saturday cover of the tabloid Thai Rath shows a naked body suspended from a clothes bar in a hotel closet, hands apparently bound together above the head and feet on the floor. The face is blacked out and other areas are obscured.

The paper did not indicate the source of the image, but Thai police said they believed it was a picture of Carradine’s body taken by a forensics team.

Keith Carradine said in a statement that the family was “profoundly disturbed by the release in Thailand of photographs taken at the scene of David Carradine’s death,” and threatened legal action against further distribution.

“The family wants it understood that, per attorney Mark Geragos, any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published,” the statement read.

The actor’s family hopes the body will arrive in Los Angeles by Monday, Geragos said, but he did not give specifics.

Geragos said the family decided to intervene because of conflicting information about Carradine’s death and a lack of direct information from Thai authorities.

“All we really know is not much more than what the public knows, and that’s disturbing,” Geragos said.

Agents were checking with the FBI’s legal attache at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok to see if Thai authorities “are requesting or would welcome FBI assistance in this matter.” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency generally only gets involved in death investigations overseas if a crime is suspected.

Investigators initially said Carradine’s body was found “naked, hanging in a closet,” causing them to suspect he had taken his own life. But his family, friends and representatives have said they doubt the 72-year-old actor would have killed himself.

Police later said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure after revealing that he was found with a rope tied around his wrist, neck and genitals — leading to speculation that Carradine may have engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

But Geragos said he expects the examination by the New York-based Baden, a celebrity among forensic pathologists who frequently consults on high-profile cases, will clear up many unanswered questions.

“It’s an amazing thing what a good pathologist can accomplish,” Geragos said.

Carradine flew to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled “Stretch” two days before his death. His friends and associates told CNN’s Larry King he had a happy marriage, recently bought a new car, and had several films lined up after he finished work in Bangkok.

A martial arts practitioner himself, Carradine was best known for the U.S. TV series “Kung Fu,” which aired from 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China for the American West after killing the emperor’s nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s two-part saga “Kill Bill.”

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Settling With Former Manager Britney Spears

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Britney Spears is settling a lawsuit from a former manager, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The pop princess was reportedly sued by Johnny Wright, a member of Britney’s management from 1999-2003, who claimed he was contractually owed pay through last year.

The terms of the Florida case were not disclosed.

As previously reported by AccessHollywood.com, Britney spears has racked up over $2.7 million in legal fees since the beginning of her father’s conservatorship of her affairs beginning in February 2008.

The star is currently on the European leg of her “The Circus Starring Britney Spears” tour and was recently spotted filming a video for her latest single, “Radar.”

hace Crawford ‘Has Big Shoes To Fill’ For ‘Footloose’ Reboot

First Chace Crawford had to convince the producers of the “Footloose” reboot that he was the right guy for the role after Zac Efron left, but he probably wasn’t counting on having to impress the wife of Kevin Bacon.

Despite taking over the role that Kevin made famous in the 1984 version, Kyra Sedgwick told People she’s excited for the young star’s take on the iconic character.

“It’s that Chace Crawford guy, right?” Kyra told People. “We’re thrilled! Sosie is a big fan. We met him at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. Kevin and he had a chat. He’s very sweet.”

But Kyra appears to be partial to her husband’s take on the role of Ren McCormack.

Adding, “He has big shoes to fill!”

Kate Hudson & A-Rod Getting Serious?

After Kate Hudson was spotted last month having dinner with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, rumors began to swirl that the duo was dating.

And now, according to People, the actress and the baseball player are getting serious.

“It’s somewhat serious,” a source told the mag. “He introduced her to a bunch of his friends.”

Kate reportedly followed A-Rod on the road last month while he played the Texas Rangers in a three-game series.

According to the mag, Kate and son Ryder, 5, stayed in the same hotel as the Yankees third baseman.

Kate and A-Rod “worked out together in the fitness center,” an eyewitness claimed.

During one of the three games against Texas, Kate reportedly sent Ryder to the ballpark to watch the game with his nanny, while she “stayed behind and watched the game from the hotel,” added the eyewitness.

“She remarked several times about what a big baseball fan she is!” the eyewitness said.

But will the reported new couple be able to hit their romance out of the park?

According to another People source, it’s too soon to call this one.

“You never know with Kate,” the source said.