Suicide unlikely in Carradine's death

David Carradine's death does not appear to have been a suicide, a former New York City chief medical examiner asked by Carradine's family to do an independent examination of the 72-year-old actor's body said Thursday.

However, he said that more information is needed from Thai investigators to determine the true cause of death.

"To reach a final determination as to the cause and the manner of death, we must wait for further information from Thailand as to the scene findings and the completion of the crime laboratory and toxicology studies that are still being performed," Dr. Michael Baden said in a statement.

Baden said he expects to receive more information from Thai authorities in a week or two and stressed that the information at hand was incomplete.

Carradine was found dead in his Bangkok hotel room on June 4. Although police initially believed the Kung Fu and Kill Bill star committed suicide, they later said it could have been accidental. Their description of the crime scene--that the actor's body was found nude, with ropes around his neck, wrist and genitals--fueled speculation that he was killed while engaging in a dangerous sex practice called auto-erotic asphyxiation. Others suspect foul play.

Sources: The Associated Press, NPR News, US magazine
Copyright © 2009

Carradine's family calls for FBI probe

Master Kan (left) imparts wisdom on aspiring Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) in Kung Fu, the hit TV series from the 70s that made him famous.

The family of David Carradine is asking the FBI to investigate the mysterious death of the 72-year-old actor, who was found Thursday morning hanging in the closet of his Bangkok hotel room with ropes around his neck and genitals, suggesting that he may have accidentally died while performing autoerotic asphyxiation.

Thai Police said Carridine likely committed suicide, but his family and co-manager, Tiffany Smith, are vehemently refuting those reports, claiming foul play might be involved . "All I can tell you is that David did not commit suicide," Simth told US magazine. "I can tell you that 100 percent. He would never commit suicide."

Following an autopsy, the body of the Kung Fu star was released into U.S. Embassy custody to be flown home. It is being transported to the U.S. on a United Airlines flight that left Bangkok at 6:50 a.m. Saturday, according Thai press reports.

Smith told CNN that a second autopsy will be conducted in the U.S. at the urging of the actor's family. "They're doing everything possible to get to the bottom of what really happened." The results of the autopsy performed in Bankok won't be known for three weeks.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency only gets involved in death investigations overseas if a crime is suspected. In the case of Carradine, that has yet to be determined.

Thai police claim that surveillance footage showed no one entering Carradine's hotel room prior to his death and he was apparently the only one who used a keycard to access the room.

The family's lawyer expressed outrage over a photo of Carradine's hanging body that was printed in a Thai tabloid and vowed to pursue legal action against any U.S. publication that uses the image.

I saw the photo, and the man shown in it does not look like Carradine at all. For one, the man a full head of black hair, and Carradine's was all white. Plus there's no way the room shown is that of a five-star hotel, which reportedly was the type of hotel where Carradine was staying. Hmm...

Sources: US magazine, CNN, AP
Copyright © 2009