Sage Stallone's lawyer and longtime friend is painting a picture of Sage in the days leading up to his death that is radically different from what law enforcement sources are telling TMZ.

Attorney George Braunstein claims:

Sage posted pics to Facebook 17 hours before he was found dead.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sage was dead for a minimum of 3 days (and possibly as long as a week) before his body was found. Our sources say no one had heard from him in a full week.  And we're told his room was filled with cigarette butts and reeked of various smells. 

Sage never exhibited any signs of drug use or addiction.
TMZ spoke with Robert Rhine, a magazine publisher who worked with Sage two months ago. He said Sage was "out of it" the entire time he worked with him and it was obvious to him and everyone at the photo shoot that Sage was on something.  And our law enforcement sources say there were multiple pill bottles in his room, some of which were "huge."

Sage didn't drink.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ his room was littered with various items, including empty beer cans.

Our sources say they believe Sage's death was an accident and not intentional.

Sage Stallone was so out of it at a recent photo shoot at his house, he tried taking pictures with a camera that still had the lens cap on ... a magazine publisher tells TMZ. 

Robert Rhine, editor-in-chief of Girls and Corpses magazine, tells TMZ ... he did a photo shoot for the mag back in May at Sage's house because the subject of the shoot had known Sage for years.

Rhine says it took Sage 45 minutes to answer the door, adding he could tell right away Sage was "on something" -- slurring his words and stumbling around -- though he never saw him take anything.

Rhine says Sage would talk to him for a couple of seconds before trailing off and just walking away. Rhine described his behavior as "very similar to Ozzy Osbourne."

Rhine said that during the photo shoot, Sage came out with a camera of his own ... which bothered Rhine because of copyright issues. But upon further inspection, Rhine noticed Sage hadn't even taken the lens cap off.

Rhine says the place was a mess, with piles of stuff everywhere.  As we previously reported ... law enforcement told TMZ  ... Sage's bedroom was "disgusting," reeking of various smells, and littered with cigarette butts and empty cans.  Numerous pill bottles were also found.

Rhine finished by telling TMZ, "What’s troubling is the fact that the people around him claim there were no signs. I saw the signs. When everyone from the shoot heard the news, none of us were surprised."  An interesting comment, because law enforcement sources say neighbors told them they were "shocked but not surprised."

Sage Stallone was dead in his room for a minimum of 3-4 days and possibly as long as a week ... this according to law enforcement sources connected with the case. 

Our sources tell TMZ ... Sage "lived like Howard Hughes" ... he often spent days in his room which was "littered with junk," including an enormous number of cigarette butts, beer and soda cans, and food.

We're told there were two drawers filled with various pill bottles, some of which were "huge."

Our sources say Sage was living like a hermit ... no one had spoken with him since a week ago Friday. Although the housekeeper had been there earlier this week, she had specific ongoing instructions never to enter Sage's room. In fact, we're told the housekeeper was told to never even knock at the door.

One law enforcement source called the room "disgusting," saying it reeked of various smells.

We're told Sage's mother called the housekeeper yesterday after being unable to reach him, asking her to stop by and check on him. That's when she discovered the body.

Law enforcement sources tell us it's pretty clear from the evidence they saw ... Sage's death was an accident.

UPDATE 10:22 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us ... Sage's death does NOT appear to be a suicide.  We're told there was NO suicide note found at the scene.

Sources tell us officials DID find "numerous empty pill bottles" in the area where Sage's body was discovered. No word on what types of medication the pill bottles were for.

We're told an autopsy is scheduled for some time in the next 48 hours.

UPDATE 5:15 PM PT:  Sylvester Stallone's rep, Michelle Bega, tells TMZ, "Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son Sage Stallone.  His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha.  Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man.  His loss will be felt forever."

6:04 PM PT: Now here's a crazy picture -- the L.A. County Coroner van, flanked by a celebrity tour filled with snap-happy tourists. Welcome to Hollywood, folks.





Sage Stallone -- Sylvester Stallone's son -- has died and sources tell us the cause was an overdose of pills.

The details surrounding the death are still unclear .. but we're told he was found in his L.A. home by either a maid or his girlfriend. Paramedics were called to the home and pronounced him dead at the scene.


Sources tell us authorities are trying to determine if the death was intentional or accidental.

We're told Sylvester is a "wreck."

Sage famously made his film debut alongside his father in the 1990 movie "Rocky 5" -- playing the role of Rocky's son Robert Balboa.


He went on to act and direct in several films ... including the 1996 film "Daylight."

Sage's mother is Sasha Czack.