BB King coroner reports no evidence of poisoning following family’s claims

The blues musician's daughters had accused his manager of foul play

There is no evidence that blues legend BB King was poisoned before his death, a coroner in Las Vegas has reported.

The guitarist passed away in his sleep aged 89 on May 14.

King’s daughters Karen Williams and Patty King previously alleged that his business manager LaVerne Toney prevented family members from visiting, as well as claiming that Toney and his personal assistant Myron Johnson hastened their father’s death.

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“I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances,” King and Williams said at the time. “I believe my father was murdered”.

Now, as Billboard reports, King’s death has been deemed due to natural causes.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg confirmed on Monday (July 13) that an autopsy showed the cause of death as Alzheimer’s disease and other physical conditions.

Official investigations into King’s death have now been closed.

The Rolling Stones paid tribute to King following his death. Mick Jagger and co held their first-ever Q&A on the social networking site, asked by fans for their memories of King.

“I was just looking at a picture of me and BB backstage at Madison Square Garden [in 1969],” Jagger told fans. “He played with us at a lot of gigs on that tour. We last played with him in a blues concert at the White House. It’s sad. He had such a huge, long career. It’s sad that we won’t be listening to him live anymore.”

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Keith Richards finished by describing King as “one of the greats”, continuing, “BB was a great guy. He was one of the true gentlemen, and I shall miss him a lot. At least we have his records. Farewell, BB.”

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