Cocaine Found In Michael Jackson's Underpants!
The Sun Online
November 30, 2005
TRACES of cocaine were found on Michael Jackson’s underwear during a police raid, it was revealed yesterday. The discovery emerged as the troubled singer faced shock new claims that he is abusing and trafficking drugs. Cops are secretly investigating allegations by former aides that Jacko, 47, is hooked on anti-depressants and painkillers. They say he pops up to 40 pills a day — and was seen falling flat on his face after injecting himself with a mystery drug.
He is suspected of transporting drugs from California to Bahrain, where he currently lives, and obtaining them with fake prescriptions. The probe is being led by Santa Barbara’s notorious District Attorney Tom Sneddon. He is still smarting after failing to convict Jacko on child sex charges in the summer.
A Jackson aide said: “Sneddon still smells blood and is determined to nail Michael.”
The star could face up to 20 years in jail if he is brought to trial and convicted. But aides fear the strain of a new court battle could kill him. The investigation centres around a huge stash of prescription drugs seized when police probing the child sex claims raided Jacko’s Neverland ranch in 2003. The swoop also unearthed the cocaine traces on the singer’s underwear. Residues of the painkiller Demerol and sedative Promethazine were also said to have been on the garments.
It is not known how the coke got there or in what form it was found.
The discovery was not revealed at the child sex trial because cops could not be certain it was Jacko who used the drug. They could not rule out the possibility the underwear had come into contact with maids or cleaning staff.
Jacko made repeated visits to hospital during the trial, suffering from excruciating back pain.
He once turned up in his pyjamas after a hospital visit. He often appeared dazed and on heavy medication. Pals believe he is takes so many painkillers and anti-depressants that he is constantly intoxicated.
The Neverland stash allegedly included bottles of Vicodin, Oxycontin, Versed, Promethazime, Xanax and Valium.
They were in Jacko’s bedroom but had been prescribed by doctors for aides including his assistant Frank Tyson. Police also seized notes from a doctor advising Jackson on how to use an opiate to wean himself off Demerol.
Cops suspected Jacko was using staff to fetch drugs in their own names or under bogus monikers.
They decided not to pursue the drugs case in favour of concentrating on the child sex claims.
But they are now reviewing evidence given by former Neverland security guard Chris Carter.
In papers just released by the Santa Maria court where Jacko was tried, Carter claimed Jacko took up to 40 anti-depressants a day. The transcript of a police interview with Carter, 25, reads:
Carter said he would get Xanax prescriptions at pharmacies for Jackson under different fictitious names including Carter’s own name.
He added that Jackson was taking ten-plus Xanax pills a night.
Carter said he expressed his concerns with Dominic Cascio (a friend of Jackson) and Dominic told him Jackson was doing better because he was down from 30-40 Xanax pills a night.
He said a doctor told him Jackson was addicted to Demerol, but said he was giving Jackson a placebo to wean him off.
He described a situation in Florida where Jackson and a security detail were in a hotel room alone and Jackson fell on his face.
He said he later found out that Jackson was intoxicated and had hurt himself.
By EMILY SMITH
US Editor
TRACES of cocaine were found on Michael Jackson’s underwear during a police
raid, it was revealed yesterday.
The discovery emerged as the troubled singer faced shock new claims that he is abusing and trafficking drugs.
Cops are secretly investigating allegations by former aides that Jacko, 47, is hooked on anti-depressants and painkillers.
They say he pops up to 40 pills a day — and was seen falling flat on his face after injecting himself with a mystery drug.
He is suspected of transporting drugs from California to Bahrain, where he currently lives, and obtaining them with fake prescriptions.
Claims ... cops say Jacko is hooked on drugs
Claims ... cops say Jacko is hooked on drugs
The probe is being led by Santa Barbara’s notorious District Attorney Tom Sneddon.
He is still smarting after failing to convict Jacko on child sex charges in the summer.
A Jackson aide said: “Sneddon still smells blood and is determined to nail Michael.”
The star could face up to 20 years in jail if he is brought to trial and convicted.
But aides fear the strain of a new court battle could kill him.
The investigation centres around a huge stash of prescription drugs seized when police probing the child sex claims raided Jacko’s Neverland ranch in 2003.
The swoop also unearthed the cocaine traces on the singer’s underwear. Residues of the painkiller Demerol and sedative Promethazine were also said to have been on the garments.
Probe ... Tom Sneddon
Probe ... Tom Sneddon
It is not known how the coke got there or in what form it was found.
The discovery was not revealed at the child sex trial because cops could not be certain it was Jacko who used the drug. They could not rule out the possibility the underwear had come into contact with maids or cleaning staff.
Jacko made repeated visits to hospital during the trial, suffering from excruciating back pain.
He once turned up in his pyjamas after a hospital visit. He often appeared dazed and on heavy medication. Pals believe he is takes so many painkillers and anti-depressants that he is constantly intoxicated.
The Neverland stash allegedly included bottles of Vicodin, Oxycontin, Versed, Promethazime, Xanax and Valium.
They were in Jacko’s bedroom but had been prescribed by doctors for aides including his assistant Frank Tyson. Police also seized notes from a doctor advising Jackson on how to use an opiate to wean himself off Demerol.
Painkiller ... Demerol
Painkiller ... Demerol
Cops suspected Jacko was using staff to fetch drugs in their own names or under bogus monikers.
They decided not to pursue the drugs case in favour of concentrating on the child sex claims.
But they are now reviewing evidence given by former Neverland security guard Chris Carter.
In papers just released by the Santa Maria court where Jacko was tried, Carter claimed Jacko took up to 40 anti-depressants a day. The transcript of a police interview with Carter, 25, reads:
Carter said he would get Xanax prescriptions at pharmacies for Jackson under different fictitious names including Carter’s own name.
He added that Jackson was taking ten-plus Xanax pills a night.
Carter said he expressed his concerns with Dominic Cascio (a friend of Jackson) and Dominic told him Jackson was doing better because he was down from 30-40 Xanax pills a night.
He said a doctor told him Jackson was addicted to Demerol, but said he was giving Jackson a placebo to wean him off.
He described a situation in Florida where Jackson and a security detail were in a hotel room alone and Jackson fell on his face.
He said he later found out that Jackson was intoxicated and had hurt himself.
Xanax ... Jackson alleged to have taken 40 a day
Xanax ... Jackson alleged to have taken 40 a day
Carter — now in jail for robbery and kidnapping — also claimed Jackson smoked pot in a recording studio with Bee Gee Barry Gibb.
Cops on Sneddon’s investigation have contacted doctors who treated Jacko and former Neverland staff. Californian pharmacies that may have dispensed the drugs will also come under the spotlight.
A Jackson aide said: “Sneddon thinks Michael could be getting drugs flown to Bahrain. The investigation is being kept secret.
“But Sneddon is considering whether he can get Michael on charges of conspiracy to export a controlled substance and prescription drug abuse. He hopes to put together a strong case and file it in the next few months.”
Jacko will fiercely deny any drugs charges brought against him.A source close to his family said last night: “Michael would fight this in court. But none of us knows if he could cope with another investigation.
“Sneddon is obsessed with bringing him down. This is not justice, it’s a witch-hunt.”
Sneddon refused to answer calls yesterday. A spokeswoman said: “He has no comment to make at this time.”
Another source told of growing concern for Jacko because he has isolated himself from his family and loyal staff.
He lives in Bahrain because he fears being arrested if he returns to California.
The source said: “People just can’t get hold of him. The family are worried he is letting his business interests go in America because he is still taking too many prescription drugs.”
A string of top aides have quit over their inability to communicate with the star.
Even Jacko’s dad Joe has been unable to get hold of him.
He tried while his son was staying in London recently but was told by an aide still serving the star that he was busy.Jacko’s lawyers and business managers are often told he is too tired
to talk. The source said: “They fear Jackson is too drugged up to deal
with anybody. They want him to go into rehabilitation to save his life.”