The B.C. Coroners Service says Hollywood actor Cory Monteith, who was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room this weekend, died of an overdose of heroin and alcohol. He was 31.
The conclusion is the result of post-mortem testing, which included an autopsy and toxicological analysis.
The actor’s body was found by staff at the Fairmont Pacific Rim on Saturday when he failed to check out of his room.
Monteith had been dead for several hours when his body was found.
Vancouver police Constable Brian Montague said Tuesday the coroner’s report does not indicate the levels of alcohol or drug found in Monteith’s body, or the purity of the drug used.
Montague confirmed three people — one man and two women — were with Monteith the night before he died. Investigators have spoken to all of them and they were cooperative.
Police said they know where Monteith was and what he was doing the night before he died, but it is not relevant to the investigation. He was alone when he returned to his hotel room at around 2:15 a.m.
Montague said there was no evidence of struggle, robbery or foul play in Monteith’s room but there was evidence consistent with a drug overdose.
Police reiterated there is no evidence to suggest Monteith’s death was anything other than a tragic accident.
They will not be looking for the person or people who supplied Monteith with the drug.
Montague would not comment on whether there is a “bad batch” of heroin making rounds on the streets of Vancouver.
He said, unless new evidence emerges, the police investigation has concluded and remains with the Coroner’s office.
Coroner’s statement:
The Coroner’s office said Monteith’s family has been made aware of the circumstances surrounding his death and are asking for privacy.
The actor’s girlfriend, Glee co-star Lea Michele, released a statement to People following the coroner’s results:
“Lea is deeply grateful for all the love and support she’s received from family, friends, and fans. Since Cory’s passing, Lea has been grieving alongside his family and making appropriate arrangements with them,” it read.
Meanwhile, a memorial outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel keeps growing as fans are leaving flowers, cards and letters of support for the actor’s family. A candlelight vigil is also being planned on Friday night.
Monteith was born in Calgary but moved to Victoria at the age of two after his parents Joe and Ann divorced. Before becoming an actor, he worked in Nanaimo, B.C as a Walmart greeter, and in Victoria as taxi driver and roofer. He landed minor roles in Final Destination 3, Whisper and Deck the Halls, had a recurring role in Kyle XY and also appeared in Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon and Stargate SG-1.
But it was on Glee where Monteith became a star, playing the character of Finn Hudson, a star quarterback of the high school football team who risked bullying from friends to join the school’s glee club. On screen he became romantically linked with the group’s best singer Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele – whom he began dating in real life in 2012.
Watch the full Vancouver police press conference with the announcement here:
Comments