R.I.P.
Ledger's Death Doesn't Look Like Suicide

Multiple sources in the NYPD tell TMZ, although it's too early to know, it's looking like Heath Ledger's death was accidental and not suicide.

There have been numerous reports suggesting that Ledger took his own life by ingesting a boatload of pills. Contrary to initial reports, the pills that were "scattered" around Ledger's apartment were actually in containers. We're told the containers were not littering the apartment. Rather, some were in the medicine cabinet and some in other rooms. As we reported, one container was on Ledger's nightstand. Cops found sleeping pills and an anti-anxiety drug in the bedroom.

A rep for the family tells TMZ that detectives have been in touch with Ledger's next of kin and the cops told them that so far there is no evidence suggesting suicide. Of course, until the toxicology reports come in, no one knows for sure.

A well-connected source in the NYPD told us this morning the "operating theory" right now within the department is that it was an accidental death, not suicide.

It's unclear if Ledger's health was a factor. As we first reported, he had pneumonia at the time of his death.

Reader Comments

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46. Ok... next please. This is old news. Get over it.

Posted at 4:39PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Sassy & Cute

47. All of you who say the autopsy will show whether or not he committed suicide-
the autopsy will show that he died from too much of a certain drug, drug interactions, etc. The autopsy CANNOT differentiate between whether or not he intended to kill himself or whether the overdose was accidental.
And thus we will never know. Not all suicide victims leave a note, and not everyone displays warning signs ahead of time.

Furthermore, "he wasn't that kind of a person..."- there is no "kind" of person who commits suicide. While statistically some genders or ethnicities are more likely than others to commit suicide, suicide is observed across all religious, racial, socioeconomic, education/income level, etc lines. Suicide is not an indicator of a person's self-worth or of what kind of a person they were. It is the action of someone with an untreated mental health disorder who unfortunately felt that suicide was the only option available to them.
Whether Heath Ledger killed himself or accidentally overdosed, it doesn't matter. He's gone. But if it was the former, rather than the latter, it doesn't make him evil, selfish, bad or anything...it just makes the whole thing even more tragic.

Posted at 5:48PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by hmmm

48. Does anyone know whether or not he had to lose any weight to play the JOKER. We all know that the weight actors lose in a short time is nothing less than incredible. That coupled with pnemonia, sleep deprevation and anxiety are enough to drive anyone a little batty. Maybe the stress on his body alone killed him, who knows. He was going throuh a break-up, directing a movie, starring in a movie and had just finished a movie. Some of us can't do more than one task at a time without getting over-anxious. He had more potential than any of the new up and coming actors, every performance as good if not better than the next. All the papparazzi and media do is look at the negative, pay him tribute and give his family time to get over the tragedy that has hit hollywood and everyone else who had a passion for film and great acting.
Heath Ledger had a smile that shone to his soul. We lost a great talent and a genuinely great man.

Posted at 1:05AM on Jan 29th 2008 by paying hommage

49. IT really hit me hard to hear about a young, talented, handsome man and Dad of a small child dieing. I have follow things a little and was thinking about it today. I was a drug addict years ago and started having problems sleeping and major anxiety issues. I got clean but the problems with anxiety and not sleeping continued. I finally saw a doc and was put on meds, but you really have to be careful with interaction of different drugs together and i am thinking that is what may have happen to Health. If he was taking over the counter sleep aids and perscipts, the interactions may not have been a good thing. Always check with doc or pharmacist first before mixing different meds. Just my thoughts they may not be right on in this situation, I do not know. But I care that it doesn't happen to others. It is really sad too if he was trying to kick his habits and OD by accident.

Posted at 6:58PM on Feb 1st 2008 by Julie

50. AN AWESOME ACTOR, BRILLANT SMILE, GREAT FATHER,EXPECTIONAL IN EVERYWAY!!! THIS IS HOW I WANT TO REMEMBER HIM AND KNOW ONE (media-newspapers-magazines-ETC) AREN'T GOING TO CONVIENCE ME.

Posted at 11:55PM on Jan 31st 2008 by Debby

51. 131.(a) I REALIZED I DIDN'T QUITE FINISH......OOPS!! THEY THE MEDIA, NEWSPAPERS, GOSSIP COLUMNS, MAGAZINES, AREN'T GOING TO CONVIENCE ME THAT HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT!!!! AND IF HE WAS, THAT'S HIS DEMONS, HIS FAMILYS BUSINESS NOT MINE!!!! STILL DOES'T CHANGE ~ HE WAS UPSET ABOUT THE BREAKUP OF HIS RELATIONSHIP(alas, engagement and not seeing Matilda and Michelle)....SIX MONTHS OF LIFE LEFT IS EXTREMELY SAD~PLEASE, PLEASE LET THE POOR MAN RIP!!!!

Posted at 12:08AM on Feb 1st 2008 by Debby

52. Nice one thanks the for the good info

Posted at 6:56PM on Feb 6th 2008 by WhiteFox

53. When I am feeling anxious and cannot sleep I seek Jesus Christ and pick up my Bible. Not a bottle or two of pills.

Posted at 4:41PM on Feb 7th 2008 by Melissa

54. Thanks for the good post very interesting

Posted at 6:14PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Foxy

55. Thanks for the news

Posted at 7:07PM on Apr 4th 2008 by sam

56. I'm sick about this--I was watching Good Morning America this morning, and cried. What a shame.

Posted at 9:21AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by How can that be??

57. i couldn't care less this douch has all the money in the wolrd and yet died like a junky. that shows money doesn't bring happiness and yet with all that money he could afford the best care in the world for his addiction. what a loser, punk.

Posted at 9:23AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by VLad

58. I personally believe that he probably couldn't get to sleep and kept take sleep medication and just took too many and overdosed!! He love his little girl way too much to kill himself. God bless your baby and family!!

Posted at 9:24AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Lenn K.

59. I love you heath will miss u i hope i run in to you in our next life

Posted at 9:27AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by kass

60. BORING!!!!!

Posted at 9:24AM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Taffy Titz

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