Autopsy: Billy Mays' death linked to cocaine

[Newsbot]

An autopsy shows that cocaine contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed TV infomercial pitchman Billy Mays in June, according to officials.

Investigators previously determined that Mays, 50, had a heart attack in his sleep at his Florida home. His wife found him unresponsive in bed on June 28. Heart disease is still listed as the primary cause of death.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner "concluded that cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death," according to a statement to The Associated Press.

The autopsy showed that Mays used cocaine a few days before his death, but was not under the influence of the drug when he died. The autopsy could not determine the frequency of cocaine use.

Toxicology tests also showed therapeutic amounts of painkillers hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol, as well as anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam and diazepam. Mays was scheduled to have a hip-replacement surgery the day after he was found dead.

Mays, best known for his boisterous delivery when hawking products like Orange Glo and OxiClean, also hosted the Discovery series Pitchmen.

[Senor JabbaJohnL]

Damn, there's so much material for a second Vince movie that it's almost too much to bear . . .