Famed forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht said Prince’s death appears to have been the result of a drug overdose, NBC News reports.
"I would give overwhelming odds that, tragically, this is a drug death," Cyril Wecht told
. He is not involved in Prince’s case. %
%
The 57-year-old superstar was found dead in an elevator at his estate in Minneapolis Thursday. Police said there were no signs of trauma.
"When you rule out foul play, when there is no history of any kind of significant disease … heart and lung … when you rule out any kind of intervention, anything of an environmental nature, you come down to an autopsy that is essentially negative … and that probably means drugs," added Wecht, whose worked on some of the nation's most high-profile autopsies. He is the former Allegheny County medical examiner.
Wecht said the emergency landing of Prince’s private jet last week for a medical reason "fits into the drug picture."
"I cannot think of any medical or pathological condition that fits that kind of scenario, with incredible ups and downs … other than drugs," he told NBC News.
Autopsy results are not expected to be released until next week.
Prince's publicist says the music superstar's remains have been cremated and a small group of family, friends and musicians have celebrated his life in a private ceremony.
Yvette Noel-Schure said in a statement Saturday that Prince's remains have been cremated and their "final storage" will be private.
Meanwhile, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE planned to dedicate its telecast to Prince, highlighting many memorable moments from his iconic appearances on the show over the past 40 years.
RELATED CONTENT:
- Select Pittsburgh theaters to screen 'Purple Rain' in memory of Prince
- LATEST: Tributes to Prince spring up across the US
- PHOTOS: Monuments light up in purple in tribute to Prince
- Music legend Prince dead at 57
- PHOTOS: Prince through the years
- Pittsburgh musician recalls years he spent playing with Prince
- Concert promoter on bringing Prince to Steel City: 'He loved Pittsburgh'
- Celebs, social media mourn Prince's death
- The moment Prince inspired the making of 'Purple Rain'
- Remember Prince's legacy with one of the greatest performances of all time
Cox Media Group