Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

Autopsy results in Heath Ledger's January 22 death should be available within the next 48 hours, a rep for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York announced Monday.

The announcement comes as the late actor's grieving family return to Australia.

The Associated Press reports that they arrived in their native Perth Tuesday and were ushered immediately from the plane and into an elevator by private
security guards and at least one police officer.

It was unclear if the actor's remains were also aboard the flight.

Details of funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Local media report Ledger's family will hold a private ceremony, and either bury his remains or have them cremated and interred at the family's plot at
a cemetery in Perth, where his two grandparents lie.

According to British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Ledger's Brokeback Mountain co-star Jake Gyllenhaal (and godfather of Ledger's daughter, Matilda, 2) is expected to fly to Perth, as well as Ledger's ex, Michelle Williams.

On Saturday, a heartbroken Williams — along with Tom Cruise, Sienna Miller and other people connected to CAA (the agency that represented Ledger) — attended a private ceremony Saturday in L.A. to honor the late actor.

Re: Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

Re: Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

I pray that they don't find any illegal drugs in him.

Re: Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

So sad and last nite....DH was watching The Patriot and I cried when he passed in the movie.

Re: Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

Posted by Smileyd17

So sad and last nite....DH was watching The Patriot and I cried when he passed in the movie.

Message edited 2/5/2008 2:16:33 PM.

Re: Heath Ledger's Autopsy Results Due in the Next 48 Hours

'Big Possibility' Heath Autopsy Results Are Ready

A "big possibility" exists that final autopsy results for Heath Ledger will be released as early as Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the New York City Medical Examiner's office tells PEOPLE.

The new findings will supplement those of an initial autopsy, whose inconclusive results were announced on Jan. 23, a day after the 28-year-old actor was found in his Manhattan apartment.

"The autopsy was inconclusive," Medical Examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove told PEOPLE on Jan. 23. "We have to do further testing including toxicology and tissue testing. Neither cause of death or manner of death has been concluded."

Michael Baden, a prominent forensic pathologist not involved with the investigation, told PEOPLE the initial inconclusive finding "rules out the natural causes, such as a brain hemorrhage, pneumonia or a cardiac abnormality."

"That leaves drug overdose as the most likely cause of death," Baden said.