Robin Williams’ Death: Suicide Due to Hanging
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Robin Williams committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt, Marin
County police said at a Tuesday press conference.
The preliminary cause of death is suicide due to asphyxia, Lt. Keith
Boyd told the media.
Williams was found hanging in a bedroom, slightly suspended in a
seated position, with superficial cut marks on the inside of his left
wrist and rigor mortis had set in. Williams was found by his
assistant, Boyd added. He was pronounced dead at 12:02 p.m. on Monday.
Williams was last seen alive by his wife at approximately 10:30 p.m.
on Sunday, Boyd added, before she went to bed.
Around 10:30 a.m. the next morning, Williams’ wife left the house,
believing Williams to still be asleep, but his assistant grew
concerned around 11:45 a.m. when Williams did not respond to repeated
knocks on his bedroom door, Boyd relayed. Once the assistant got into
the room, the assistant found Williams clothed, hanging against a
closed closet door, with a belt secured around his neck, with the
other end of the belt wedged between the door and the door frame, Boyd
explained.
With respect to the cut marks on his wrist, Boyd noted that a pocket
knife, with dried red material that appeared consistent to dried blood
on it, was found near Williams’ body. It’s unknown if the substance is
blood or if that blood belongs to Williams, Boyd pointed out.
An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday morning in Napa County, Boyd
noted. Boyd said he would not reveal whether a note had been left at
the scene.
Boyd did note, in recounting the 911 call received after Williams was
found, that the caller sounded distraught.
Boyd also said that there’s still an ongoing, active investigation
into the cause and manner Williams’ death and that toxicology tests
will be conducted, which could take approximately two to six weeks. A
press conference will be scheduled when the investigation is
completed, Boyd said.
Williams’ publicist, Mara Buxbaum, told The Hollywood Reporter Monday
that the actor, “has been battling severe depression of late. This is
a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their
privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”
Boyd said Tuesday that Williams had been seeking treatment for depression.
Williams was a four-time Oscar nominee who won the best supporting
actor trophy for his role in Good Will Hunting. He most recently
starred in CBS’ one-season comedy The Crazy Ones, alongside Sarah
Michelle Gellar.