According to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, TV pitchman Billy Mays died on June 28 from heart disease that was likely made worse by his cocaine use in the days prior to his death.
In a press release, the ME’s office said, “Cocaine can raise the arterial blood pressure, directly cause thickening of the wall of the left ventricle of the heart, and accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.”
The toxicology report indicated that the 50-year-old had also taken the prescription drugs hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol for hip pain. He was just days away from undergoing a third hip surgery in 18 months because of chronic pain that was not well managed by the prescribed drug therapy. None of the prescribed drugs were found to be at toxic levels in his system at the time of his death.
Deborah Mays, wife of the deceased, called the cocaine abuse charge “speculative” and released her own statement which said, “We were totally unaware of any non-prescription drug usage and are actively considering an independent evaluation of the autopsy results.”
View the video announcement below.