Autopsy Finds David Carradine Did Not Commit Suicide

David Carradine was found tied in rope in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.

An independent autopsy conducted on David Carradine’s body concluded that the actor did not commit suicide.

"On the basis of the information we currently have, coupled with the autopsy findings, Carradine's death does not appear to be a suicide," Dr. Michael Baden, who performed the autopsy, told FOXNews.com Thursday.

Baden said that the final results of the cause of death would likely be available "within a week or two."

"In any death, before arriving at a final cause, one has to gather not only the autopsy results, but also the findings at the scene of the death, the crime lab information and the toxicology results. In this situation, some of those investigations have not been completed yet," Baden said. "But the information we now have does rule out a suicide."

Carradine was found dead a week ago, hanging in a closet of a Bangkok hotel room.

Meanwhile, Carradine's brothers have asked for understanding as Thai authorities investigate.

Keith and Robert Carradine say they're grateful for the outpouring of support during what they call a "profoundly painful time." In a statement read Thursday in Los Angeles, they also thanked U.S. and Thai authorities for their work.

Hotel surveillance footage indicated no one entered Carradine's room before he died, the policeman leading the death investigation said last Saturday.

Police initially said Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," causing them to suspect he committed suicide, though no suicide note was found.

Immediately following the rumors of a suicide, the actor’s family, friends and associates denounced the possibility of him taking his own life.

Last Friday, police said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure after revealing that he was found with a rope tied around his neck and penis — leading to speculation that Carradine may have engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

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Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science, said the circumstances under which Carradine died suggest the 72-year-old actor may have indeed been performing auto-erotic asphyxiation. The practice involves temporarily cutting off the supply of oxygen to the brain to heighten the effects of a sexual climax.

"In some cases it can suggest murder, too. But sometimes when the victim is naked and in bondage, it can suggest that the victim is doing it to himself," said Pornthip, considered the country's top criminal forensics expert. She did not take part in the autopsy.

"If you hang yourself by the neck, you don't need so much pressure to kill yourself," she said. "Those who get highly sexually aroused tend to forget this fact."

Carradine's body was discovered Thursday morning in his luxury suite by a chambermaid at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, said its general manager, Aurelio Giraudo.

Carradine flew to Thailand and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death. His friends and associates insisted he would not have killed himself, telling CNN's Larry King he had a happy marriage, recently bought a new car, and had several films lined up after he finished work in Bangkok.

Carradine, a martial arts practitioner himself, was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired from 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby.

He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates, including Bill.

FOXNews.com's Allison McGevna and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Carradine brothers speak
LOS ANGELES, Thu Jun 11, 02:34 PM
 
 
 
The independent forensics expert who examined David Carradine's body says the actor didn't commit suicide, and Carradine's brothers are asking for understanding as Thai authorities investigate.

Keith and Robert Carradine say they're grateful for the outpouring of support during what they call a "profoundly painful time." In a statement read Thursday in Los Angeles, they also thanked U.S. and Thai authorities for their work.

The family also released a statement from Dr. Michael Baden (BAH'-den), who said Carradine's death wasn't a suicide. He said further information from Thailand is needed for a final determination.

Carradine was found dead a week ago, hanging in a closet of a Bangkok hotel room.

David Carradine's family seeks FBI, forensics expert help
LOS ANGELES, Sat Jun 06, 03:02 PM
 
The family of David Carradine is asking a private forensics expert and the FBI to help investigate the "Kung Fu" actor's death, attorney Mark Geragos said Saturday, the same day Thai police said surveillance footage indicated no one had entered his hotel room before he died.

Carradine's brother Keith met Friday with the FBI and filed reports that could lead to the agency opening its own inquiry, said Geragos, who represents Keith Carradine. Once the body is back in Los Angeles, the family will also seek a private autopsy by famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to determine whether another person could have been involved, Geragos said.

He said the family intervened because of conflicting information about Carradine's death and a lack of direct information from Thai authorities.

"All we really know is not much more than what the public knows, and that's disturbing," Geragos said.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Saturday that the agency only gets involved in death investigations overseas if a crime is suspected. Thai police said Saturday that they had not been contacted by the FBI.

David Carradine's body was discovered Thursday morning in his luxury suite by a chambermaid at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, said its general manager, Aurelio Giraudo. Carradine's family, friends and representatives have said they doubt the 72-year-old actor would have killed himself.
 
Police initially said Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," causing them to suspect he had taken his own life. On Friday, however, police said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure after revealing that he was found with a rope tied around his wrist, neck and genit*ls — leading to speculation that Carradine may have engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

The results of an autopsy performed Friday in Bangkok were not expected for at least three weeks, said Dr. Nanthana Sirisap, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Autopsy Center. Nanthana said that was normal considering the unusual circumstances of the death.

Col. Somprasong Yenthuam, who is heading the investigation, said police have interviewed all staff at the hotel where Carradine was staying and reviewed surveillance footage outside his room. Based on that, they have found no evidence that anyone was in Carradine's room before he died which they said all but ruled out foul play.

The investigation continued Saturday, with police interviewing the crew of the film that Carradine was shooting in Bangkok.

Baden is a celebrity among forensic pathologists, appearing on a series of HBO specials highlighting some of the more than 20,000 autopsies he has performed. He frequently consults on high-profile cases, including conducting an autopsy on Drew Peterson's third wife and as a defense witness for Phil Spector during his first murder trial.

Baden is the chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police and Geragos said he expects Baden's examination will clear up many unanswered questions.

"It's an amazing thing what a good pathologist can accomplish," Geragos said.

Carradine flew to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death. His friends and associates told CNN's Larry King he had a happy marriage, recently bought a new car, and had several films lined up after he finished work in Bangkok.

Carradine, a martial arts practitioner himself, was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired from 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China for the American West after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill."

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AP writer Michael Casey in Bangkok contributed to this report.

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Veteran Hong Kong actor Shek Kin dies
Posted: 05 June 2009

HONG KONG - Hong Kong movie legend Shek Kin passed away from kidney complications and heart failure on Thursday morning, reported the Hong Kong media. He was 96.

The Hong Kong entertainment industry mourned the death of Shek, who was not only famed for his villainous roles but was also among its first generation of martial arts stars.

Gregory So, Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, expressed regret at the loss. "Mr Shek's brilliant career in the performing arts industry started in the 1940s. Since then he devoted lifelong commitment to the industry. He played a villain role in the 'Wong Fei Hong' film series and had become one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong cinema," said So.

A character actor that played the villain role to perfection, Shek's performance was so convincing that he was once pelted with eggs upon his arrival in Singapore.

Shek started off as a make-up artist and worked his way up to be regarded as one of Hong Kong's top actors.

He launched his acting career by playing a spy in movie "Flower in a Sea of Blood" but it was his villain portrayal in the famous "Wong Fei Hong" series that made him a household name.

Together with another martial arts icon, the late Kwan Tak Hing who passed away 13 years ago, the pair collaborated in almost 80 "Wong Fei Hong" films.

"He is a complete actor who excels in any role and I fully respect him," the late Kwan said.

In a career spanning 50 years, Shek worked with most of Hong Kong famous artistes including Kwan, Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon) and Chow Yun Fatt (A Better Tomorrow III).

Towards the later stages of his career, Shek shed his bad-guy image and also jumped over to the small screen and acted in several television dramas, including the famous Louis Cha's "Condor Trilogy".

Shek officially retired in 1993 at a ripe old age of 80. In 1996, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the Hong Kong Film Critics Association and was also awarded for his professional contributions by the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2003.

- CNA/fa

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/434035/1/.html

David Carradine will be missed by AL SANTO and Kyonsi the autopsy should be out in a day or so ....

Thai police: Carradine death maybe accidental
BANGKOK, Fri Jun 05, 03:30 AM

The body of American actor David Carradine, best known for the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu," was found in a hotel room closet with a rope tied to his neck and g*nitals, and his death may have been accidental suffocation, Thai police said Friday.

The 72-year-old actor's body was discovered Thursday in his luxury suite at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel. Police initially said they suspected suicide, though Carradine's associates had questioned that theory.

Police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chewprecha told reporters that Carradine was found with a rope "tied around his pen*s and another rope around his neck."

"The two ropes were tied together," he said. "It is unclear whether he committed suicide or not or he died of suffocation or heart failure due to an orgasm."

Thai police completed an autopsy on Carradine Friday but so far have not released the results.

Dr. Nanthana Sirisap, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Autopsy Center, told reporters that the autopsy was conducted because of the "unusual circumstances surrounding Carradine's death," but he did not elaborate.

Police Lt. Teerapop Luanseng had said on Thursday that Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," and that police at the time suspected suicide.

But one of Carradine's managers, Tiffany Smith of Binder & Associates, dismissed the theory.

 
"All we can say is, we know David would never have committed suicide," said Tiffany Smith, of Binder & Associates, his management company. "We're just waiting for them to finish the investigation and find out what really happened. He really appreciated everything life has to give ... and that's not something David would ever do to himself."

Carradine had flown to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death, Smith said. He had several other projects lined up after the action film, which was being directed by Charles De Meaux.

Carradine was "in good spirits" when he left the U.S. for Thailand on May 29 to work on "Stretch," Smith said.

"David was excited to do it and excited to be a part of it," she said by phone from Beverly Hills.

Filming began Tuesday, she said, adding that the crew was devastated by Carradine's death and did not wish to speak publicly about it for the time being.

Aurelio Giraudo, the hotel's general manager, said Carradine checked into the hotel May 31 and he last saw him June 3. He said Carradine chatted with staff and even played piano a few nights in the lobby as well as flute which the "guests really enjoyed."

"I was a fan. I had a very nice talk with him when he checked in," Giraudo told The Associated Press. "He was very much a person full of life. I mentioned to him that I had seen (the movie) "Crank" with my family and that was the last smile he gave me."

Giraudo said a chambermaid discovered Carradine's body, adding that she knocked and entered after there was no response. Police arrived shortly thereafter.

Carradine, a martial arts practitioner himself, was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired from 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby.

He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates, including Bill.