Billy Mays Family Disputes Cocaine Finding as a Factor in the TV Pitchman's Death

Billy Mays, popular TV pitchman was found dead in his Tampa home on June 28^th. He was in Tampa for hip surgery scheduled for the following week. The night before his death he had gone to bed early, complaining of not feeling well. Family members could not wake him the next morning, and notified emergency rescue personnel who pronounced him dead.

On August 7^th, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office released an autopsy report saying cocaine was a contributing cause to the heart disease that killed Mr. Mays. Traces of the drug were found in his body. There was also evidence of prescribed pain medication which was not listed as a cause of death.

Mr. Mays' widow, Deborah, disputes the autopsy findings citing cocaine use as contributing factor in her husband's death. She hired a consultant medical examiner from the Burlington and Ocean counties in New Jersey to review her husband's medical records. In a six page report, Dr. William Manion, a consultant for the company, concluded that cocaine did not play a significant contributing factor in the death of Mr. Mays because he could not find evidence of chronic cocaine use.

"I think the family wanted to see if there was any evidence that Mr. Mays was a chronic, secret cocaine abuser, and I found none. To make that accusation without any evidence is a stretch. There could be a lot of implications in life insurance and business contracts if cocaine is listed as a contributing cause."

Deborah Mays, Billy Mays' widow, stated that, "We believed at the time and believe even more now, that the findings of the Hillsborough Medical County medical examiner were not supported by the findings of the autopsy, or by Billy's medical history. Although we cannot undo the damage that has already been done to Billy's reputation, we are hopeful that this information will assist in clearing the good name of a husband, father and friend."

Billy Mays' son, Billy Mays III said, "I think the Hillsborough Medical examiner made a judgment on his celebrity status and kind of jumped on it."

However, Dr. Cynthia Lewis-Younger, medical director of the Florida Poison Control Center in Tampa, said that even an occasional or one time use of cocaine, could have constricted Mays' blood vessels in a way that contributed to the heart disease that killed him.

The Hillsborough Medical Examiner's Office stands by its findings.

Sources:

TBO.com

St. Pete Times