RIP

Blac Chyna's house manager died Thursday morning after her family made the decision to take her off life support ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Patty, who also helped run Chyna's clothing line, suffered a stroke in July 2017 but continued to work afterward. She fell into a coma in December due to bleeding on her brain.

Sources close to her family tell us Patty recently suffered a third brain bleed and was declared brain-dead ... so the difficult decision was made to take her off life support. Patty's husband says her organs will be donated.

As we reported ... both Rob Kardashian and Tyga donated a lot of money to Patty's GoFundMe page to help cover her medical expenses while she was in a coma.

She was 34.

A former CNBC producer was killed when his e-cigarette exploded and lodged in his skull ... according to an autopsy.

Tallmadge Wakeman D'Elia died on Cinco de Mayo in St. Petersburg, FL after his vape pen ignited a fire in his bedroom. The autopsy results just came out and reportedly showed the e-cig not only exploded and sparked the blaze, but it also made a "projectile wound" in D'Elia's skull.

The 38 year old's vape pen was reportedly a device made in the Philippines that is unregulated and not recommended for beginners. It is still unclear what caused the pen to explode.

FEMA, which keeps stats on electronic cigarettes, says D'Elia's death is the first in the U.S. caused by a vape pen.

Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy got a surprise visit in L.A. from Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James Prince -- just a few weeks before Biggie's murder -- and the conversation could have saved his life ... TMZ has learned.

The meeting went down in February 1997, when sources connected to James tell us he'd heard B.I.G. and Puff Daddy (as he was then known) were shooting the "Hypnotize" music video. We're told James had immediate concerns about their safety ... and rushed to the set. Here's why.

James had just been in L.A. with Scarface, one of his artists, and heard a lot of talk on the streets about a possible revenge hit. Remember, Tupac had been murdered about 6 months earlier, and there were widespread, but unsubstantiated, rumors that Puff and Biggie were involved -- fueled by the west coast-east-coast feud.

We're told James urged them to take the threats seriously and consider leaving town -- especially when he saw how relaxed security was on the set -- but they seemed unfazed, and more focused on completing the video.

A few weeks later, Biggie was shot and killed outside L.A.'s Petersen Automotive Museum.

Our sources say James did not have specific knowledge of a hit, but had heard enough buzz he wanted to put it on Puff and B.I.G.'s radar.

We're told the meeting is one of several stories from behind the scenes of hip-hop that J. Prince will reveal in his book, "The Art and Science of Respect" ... which will be released next month.

"Superman" star Margot Kidder was battling the flu just 4 days before she died, and talked about her struggle during what appears to be her final interview.

Kidder phoned in to “The Drew and Mike Show” in Detroit on May 9 to promote an upcoming appearance at Motor City Comic Con. She told the hosts she was "in bed with flu" because she's "puking every hour and a half." Kidder sounded rough, very raspy -- and, even though she was in good spirits, she said the flu battle was "not fun."

As we previously reported ... Margot was found dead Sunday at her home in Livingston, Montana. Cops responded to a call that Margot was unconscious and not breathing. Her death is under investigation, but police have said they don't suspect foul play.

Kidder was 69.

Margot Kidder, the actress who played Lois Lane in "Superman," died Sunday in Montana ... TMZ has learned.

Margot was at her home when she passed away, according to the spokesperson at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston, MT. The cause of death is unknown at this point.

Bruce Becker, the Park County Attorney, tells TMZ ... an unknown person called police to report Margot was unconscious and not breathing. Police responded and found her dead. The Livingston Police Chief says foul play is not considered a factor, but her death is now under investigation.

Margot starred opposite Christopher Reeve in 1978's "Superman," and also in the 3 sequels. She continued acting right up until this year, taking small roles in TV shows and movies -- but also had stage roles ... including "The Vagina Monologues" on Broadway. She reportedly had 2 more roles yet to be released.

Margot had a very public battle with bipolar disorder for years. During her struggle she was briefly homeless in 1996. Margot became an advocate for mental health after that incident.

She'd been married 3 times, although she'd been single since the '80s.

Margot is survived by a daughter.

Yo Gotti's concert Friday night was interrupted by the sound of nearby gunfire, and a person was shot dead.

It happened near the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. The rapper was on stage at around 11:30 PM when police got a call that someone had been shot in a nearby parking lot.

Police and paramedics raced to the scene and when they got there they pronounced the victim dead.

Witnesses say a fight had broken out and in the middle of the melee someone fired a gun.

Law enforcement can't say for sure if the people involved in the fight and shooting had attended the concert, but given the time of night and the proximity to the venue it appears there's some connection.

The Estate of Matthew Mellon, the heir to the banking dynasty who died last month on his way to rehab, wants to sell one of his big assets before it crashes and burns -- cryptocurrency.

The Estate -- estimated worth $100 million -- consists almost entirely of cryptocurrency. According to legal docs, the Estate is deeply concerned about the volatility of the digital money, noting since Matthew's death it's fluctuated by up to 30% of its value.

The Estate wants to unload the currency STAT ... faster than the normal course of action in probate court.

It's clear from the legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the Estate has little faith in the long-term viability of cryptocurrency, making it clear they believe the trajectory of the digital money is a downward spiral.

The 54-year-old heir had a history of drug abuse. In 2016 he was reportedly spending $100k a month and taking 80 OxyContin pills a day.

The man who shot and killed ex-NFL player Joe McKnight is out of jail -- he's been moved to a federal prison outside New Orleans, TMZ Sports has learned.

56-year-old Ronald Gasser was transferred from Jefferson Parish Jail to the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center -- which we're told is considered a federal prison.

Gasser was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years for shooting and killing McKnight during a 2016 road rage incident.

The prison opened in 2015 and reportedly cost around $118 million -- and boasts state-of-the-art technology including biometric locks that allow staffers to use their fingerprints to open certain doors.

The man best known for playing surgeon Major Charles Winchester on "M*A*S*H" wanted to help people in the real world too ... or so it seems, based on his will.

David Ogden Stiers -- who died in March after a battle with bladder cancer -- left hundreds of thousands of his fortune behind to various charities ... and also donated valuable collections to his local library and symphony orchestra in Newport, Oregon.

According to the docs ... Stiers earmarked $50k each to 5 different charity organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, My Sister's Place and Newport's Children's Advocacy Center.

He also left all his CDs and DVDs behind to the Newport Library, donating his vinyls, artwork and wine collection to the Newport Symphony Orchestra ... and gave another $50k to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to establish a scholarship program for someone planning a political career.

As for some of Stiers' more flashy gifts ... the Newport Symphony music director gets his Tesla Model X, and his Oregon home is left to the man he named his conservator -- Jeremy Robinson.

David was 75.

The man who stabbed Morgan Freeman's step-granddaughter 25 times dodged a murder conviction ... but still got nailed for manslaughter.

The judge handed down the decision Monday in NYC. Lamar Davenport killed E'Dena Hines back in August 2015 outside of the couple's NYC apartment. Davenport was acquitted of second degree murder. His lawyer argued Davenport was high on PCP when he repeatedly stabbed Hines while screaming, "I love you. I always loved you. God would have wanted this." The judge agreed Davenport wasn't acting with malice, he was just messed up on drugs.

Davenport now faces up to 25 years in prison.

As we reported ... Davenport screamed several religious statements during the stabbing.

After her death, Morgan said, "her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace."

Kokito, the French bulldog placed in the overhead bin of a United Airlines flight, died of suffocation ... TMZ has learned.

According to results of Kokito's necropsy, conducted at Cornell University, the 9-month-old puppy was the victim of the decreased oxygen levels in the overhead compartment. Stress combined with the animal's narrow airway -- which is common in the breed -- were also factors.

You'll recall Kokito's owner had the 20-pound dog in a carrier at her feet, but a flight attendant on the flight from Houston to NYC insisted the carrier be place in the overhead bin. Witnesses said Kokito was barking for a long time.

Prosecutors in NY and Texas are looking into the dog's death as a possible criminal matter, which is why the experts at Cornell were called on to conduct the necropsy.

United just announced it will resume allowing certain dog breeds in the cabin during flights. It had suspended that while flight crews went through mandatory "compassion training."

Avicii committed suicide with broken glass he used to cut himself ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources familiar with the circumstances surrounding the famous DJ's death tell us, he did indeed take his own life ... something his parents alluded to last week.

Our sources say the method of death was a shard of glass that caused massive bleeding. Two sources tell us Avicii broke a bottle and used the glass to inflict the fatal wound. One of the sources says it was a wine bottle.

Two sources tell us the point of injury was Avicii's neck but another strongly denies that, saying it was his wrist. We cannot confirm this, but the sources were privy to specific information about Avicii's death.

As TMZ reported ... the 28-year-old was found dead April 20 in the Middle Eastern country of Oman. He battled alcohol problems for years, and his friends worried those issues would eventually kill him.

Avicii's family released a statement that included the clear message it was suicide ... "He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace."

Mercedes-Benz is following the lead of fake news by its unspoken policy of "fake recalls" ... so customers claim in a new lawsuit.

The auto giant is being sued for allegedly issuing recall notices for the premature deployment of airbags, which by its own admission can cause grievous injury or death.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Mercedes has been issuing recall notices for the problem, but when customers have attempted to schedule a fix they were routinely told the parts were not available and the fixes would have to wait.

According to the class action lawsuit, it's all an attempt by Mercedes to shirk its responsibility with potentially grave consequences. The suit says it especially dices for people who lease Mercedes, because the company allegedly just stalls until the customer gives up and eventually returns the car.

The suit claims at least 18 people have died as a result of Mercedes airbags, and the auto company is aware of the "significant problems" associated with its airbags.

Attoney Ben Meiselas from Geragos & Geragos tells TMZ, "Consumers were let down, and their safety compromised, by fake recall notices. If Mercedes announces a recall because their products could kill people they have to be prepared to actually do the recall and not string consumers along until their leases are up."

TMZ has obtained a copy of Verne Troyer's

... and it reveals his family's plans for his remains.

As we previously reported, Troyer died April 21 at a Los Angeles-area hospital. His death certificate shows Verne was cremated, and his remains will be sent to his home state of Michigan for interment.

Verne's cause of death is listed as "deferred" pending further investigation. Toxicology testing has not been completed yet.

He was rushed to the hospital early in April after cops got a call that he was suicidal. Sources say he was treated for alcohol poisoning because his BAC was triple the .08 limit, and he'd been on life support since then.

Verne was 49.

Billy Bush says George H.W. Bush probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon -- 'cause he's been to the hospital bed and back before ... plus, he's got jelly jars to mug for.

We got Billy hanging with his kids Sunday at Pacific Park in Santa Monica, where we asked how his uncle was doing after being hospitalized just a day after Barbara Bush's funeral.

He says the POTUS 41 is "solid" -- noting he was hospitalized 5 years ago, and came back from that just fine. Billy also makes a prediction about H.W.'s short-term and long-term life goals -- namely, a potential plan to be the (literal) face of Smucker's. Give it 7 years.

Mike Posner's still coping with the loss of Avicii, and says the world-famous DJ's death has been a harsh reminder for him -- nothing lasts forever.

We got the singer at LAX Thursday and asked him how he feels about his hit track, "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" -- known for its mention of Avicii in the second line -- now that he's gone. He tells us it definitely has a much deeper meaning now ... and will always make him think of Tim.

Mike also says he wants his friend remembered for his music above all else, because that's the highest honor for musicians ... and what he hopes for himself. He shares some fond memories of working with Avicii, too ... even on the never-released stuff.