BB King Was Not Poisoned, Died Of Natural Causes Like Alzheimer's, Diabetes: Coroner

The Clark County Coroner’s Office in Las Vegas, Nevada, said Monday that blues musician B.B. King died of natural causes, and not due to poisoning. Tests were conducted 10 days after King’s death when two of his daughters alleged that he had been murdered.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg told the Associated Press (AP), that the cause of King's death was Alzheimer's disease and other physical conditions including coronary disease, heart failure and Type 2 diabetes. The blues guitarist died at the age of 89 on May 14.

"We ruled it Alzheimer's disease as the cause of death with other significant contributing factors," Fudenberg said, according to CNN.

"At this point, we can say with confidence that Mr. King died of natural causes," he said, according to NBC News, adding: "Our condolences go out to the family and many friends of Mr. King, and we hope this determination brings them some measure of closure."

Larissa Drohobyczer, attorney for King’s daughters Karen Williams and Patty King, said earlier that B.B. King's death was hastened by his business manager LaVerne Toney and personal assistant Myron Johnson.

Patty and Karen had also released separate but identically worded affidavits after the death of "The Thrill Is Gone" singer, saying: "I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances to induce his premature death," adding: "I believe my father was murdered."

Toney and Johnson’s lawyer Brent Bryson had claimed that the daughters were making the allegations for money and called them "absolutely ridiculous" and "unfounded."

“I hope they have a factual basis that they can demonstrate for their defamatory and libelous allegations,” Bryson reportedly said at the time, adding: “This is extremely disrespectful to B.B. King. He did not want invasive medical procedures. … These unfounded allegations have caused Mr. King to undergo an autopsy, which is exactly what he didn't want.”

Following the latest revelations by Fudenberg, Bryson said, according to the AP: "Ms. Toney and Mr. Johnson are very happy that these false and fictional allegations that were made against them by certain of Mr. King's children have been dispelled," adding: "Hopefully we can now focus on the body of musical work that B.B. King left the world, and he can finally rest in peace."