Criminal Investigation Surrounding MJ’s Death

An inquiry into Michael Jackson's death is now a criminal investigation, with manslaughter officially suspected by authorities.

No suspect has been named, but authorities have closed in on Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor at the time of his death.

The Houston cardiologist, who was at Jackson's side tending to him when he died, has remained close to his Las Vegas home as authorities conducted searches of his Houston office and a storage unit, searching for evidence to explain the pop singer's sudden death at 50.

Court records filed in Texas now confirm manslaughter is suspected. A Houston judge approved warrants to search Murray's offices, a storage unit and the Acres Homes Cardiovascular Centre at the Tidwell Professional Building, in Houston.

According to the documents filed, search teams took possession of computer hard drives, lists of contacts and letters from the Internal Revenue Service and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Other items taken from Murray's office include 27 tablets of the appetite suppressant phentermine, one tablet of the muscle relaxant clonazepam, two vials of unidentified drugs, and miscellaneous paper work.

Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Bruce Borihanh said he could confirm a search warrant was served but had no other comment. LAPD investigators have interviewed Murray twice but have not labeled him a suspect.

Poor MJ is never going to be able to rest in peace until someone is blamed for his tragic, sudden death.

—Philippa Bourke, Splash News