Updated at 3:57 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2008
Figure skating: Autopsy inconclusive in Bowman death
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — An autopsy was conducted today on former figure skating star Christopher Bowman but the coroner's office did not reach a conclusion on what killed him, authorities said."The cause of death has been deferred pending further investigation," Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Richard Hanna said.
Coroner's officials probably will not decide on the cause of Bowman's death until they get back results of toxicology tests to determine whether there were drugs in his body. That could be six to eight weeks, Hanna said.
Bowman, 40, was found dead Thursday in a motel room in the North Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. Authorities have said prescription medication was found at the scene but they have not said what kind or in what quantity.
Police have said there were no signs of foul play or illegal drug use.
Bowman, a U.S. figure skating star in the 1980s and 1990s, had a talent that was matched by a reputation for hard living. He had battled cocaine addiction.
Recently, the former child actor had come from Detroit to Southern California to make a comeback in acting.
A friend who found Bowman's body told police that Bowman might have been drinking.
There also have been reports that Bowman was overweight and suffered from health problems but Hanna said he could not confirm that.
The autopsy report said at death, the 6-foot-1 Bowman weighed 261 pounds.
