Whitney Houston Cause of Death: The Facts and the Speculation

Whitney Houston's cause of death remains the subject of much debate. Did she die of prescription drugs? Did she drown? Was it a fatal combination?

Coroners on Sunday completed an autopsy of the singer, who was found dead Saturday in her suite at the Beverly Hills Hilton before she was to attend Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy Awards bash.

Like other high-profile Los Angeles deaths, there is a security hold on Houston's autopsy results as detectives piece together the circumstances of her death.

Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner's office told reporters Sunday there will be no cause of death at this time because it is pending toxicology reports.

Asked Monday whether authorities knew the cause of death and were barred from releasing it because of the security hold, Winter said, We do not know [the cause] yet. He added that the coroner's office would notify police and Houston's family as soon as they knew.

I know there are reports that she maybe was drowned or did she overdose? But we won't make a final determination until all the tests are in, Winter said.

Those lab results are not expected for another six to eight weeks.

What is known is that Whitney Houston's life of glorious songs and heartbreaking self-destruction ended in a bathtub at the upscale Beverly Hill's hotel. Though Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter declined to say anything more about the room's condition or any evidence investigators recovered, TMZ reports that about a half dozen pill bottles were found in Houston's room. Those prescriptions drugs reportedly found included Xanax, prompting speculation that the departed diva died by drowning in her tub.

Though Xanax is not a meant to be a sedative, the anti-anxiety drug is known to cause drowsiness - particularly when combined with alcohol.

Sources told E! News that Houston had filled prescriptions for antidepression and antianxiety medication for years. Houston reportedly believed Xanax helped calm her nerves before going out in public.

There were more questions than answers Monday about Houston's sudden death.

A member of Houston's entourage reportedly found her in the bathtub around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The 48-year-old was officially pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.

There are multiple reports that Houston had been drinking with friends the night before her death at the hotel, though no alcohol was found in the preliminary sweep of Houston's room, TMZ reported.

The celebrity gossip site said Houston's head was under water and she could not be resuscitated by paramedics after being removed from the tub. Regardless of whether or not this is true, police say there were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma on Houston's body.

Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen hinted that his agency may release more details about Houston's death Monday.

The troubled superstar attended rehearsals for the Grammys on Thursday, coaching singers Brandy and Monica. Some in attendance said Houston looked disheveled and was sweating profusely.

However singer Kelly Price, who spent Thursday night with Houston at a party, disagreed. She said Houston was upbeat and joyful.

She did not seem disheveled. She was dancing, she was laughing. ... We were having a good time, Price told CNN.

Multiple reports also say Houston was observed behaving erratically earlier in the week at a Los Angeles club.

Clive Davis, a longtime producer and mentor of Houston, announced before his Saturday evening party at the Beverly Hills Hilton that he was personally devastated by the loss of somebody who meant so much to me. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight ... she loved music. She loved this night. Let's celebrate music.

Davis called Houston a beautiful person and said the six-time Grammy winner had talent beyond compare.

She graced this stage with her regal presence so many times, he added. Simply put, Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked us to carry on.

Sunday night's Grammy Awards served as a tribute to the fallen superstar. Host LL Cool J began his Grammy monologue by acknowledging we've had a death in our family and offering a prayer thanking God for sharing our sister Whitney with us.

Toward the night's end, Jennifer Hudson took to the stage at the Staples Center for a stirring rendition of Houston's mega-hit I Will Always Love You.

Born into greatness -- the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick, and goddaughter of Aretha Franklin -- Houston began singing in church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling.

From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's bestselling artists, dabbling in acting with films like The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

Houston ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were tainted by drug use, erratic behavior, and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

The biggest devil is me. Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy.

Houston's family issued a statement Sunday saying, We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Whitney. This is an unimaginable tragedy and we will miss her terribly. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from her fans and friends.

Funeral arrangements for Houston are pending.