Anna Nicole Smith: Her Life, and Her Death

Aged only 39 years, Anna Nicole Smith died on Thursday, February 8, 2007, shocking the world. She was found unresponsive in her hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida by her nurse. Smith was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

On Friday, an autopsy was performed. Dr. Joshua Perper, the chief medical examiner of Broward County, Florida, reports that the cause of Smith's death could not yet be determined. He did state, however, that there was no evidence of foul play, blunt force trauma, asphyxiation, or any other physical trauma. Also, no drugs were found in Smith's stomach, although some prescription drugs were found in the hotel room.

Some new reports suggest that Smith may have become ill in the last few days of her life. She reportedly spiked a fever, and even needed to be placed in an ice bath, as her temperature rose to 105 degrees on Tuesday. Some of the prescription drugs found in the hotel room were antibiotics.

Anna Nicole Smith's death occurred just five months after the birth of her daughter, Danniellynn, and the death of her twenty year old son, Daniel. Daniel died of a drug overdose.

At the time of Smith's death, a court dispute over the paternity of Danniellynn was ongoing. Two men are both claiming to be the father of Smith's baby. One of these men is Howard K. Stern, Smith's most recent boyfriend. The other is Larry Birkhead, another former boyfriend of Smith. Currently it is being reported that a third man has come forward claiming paternity. This man is Prince Frederick von Anhalt, husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor. Anhalt claims to have had an affair with Smith.

A California judge has ordered Anna Nicole Smith's body to be preserved until at least February 20, when a hearing is to be held regarding the paternity issue of Smith's daughter. This may, of course, interfere with funeral plans.

Anna Nicole Smith first came into the public eye in 1992, when she first appeared in Playboy. In 1993 she was Playmate of the Year. Smith married 89 year old Howard Marshall in 1994; he died only a year later. Smith became involved in a legal battle over Marshall's estate, which was still going on at the time of her death. Smith was also involved in another lawsuit, against Trim Spa, for which she had previously been a spokesperson.

Smith led a life full of drama and controversy. Her tragic and sudden death has been a shock to the world. Anna Nicole Smith, dead at age 39.