Surprising Discoveries Found In Famous People’s Autopsies

Celebrities come in all shapes and sizes, with many forgetting that underneath the fame and fortune, they’re just people, too. Sadly, that means that they also face the inevitable end, but what about when things are far from what they seem on the surface?

The tragic details revealed in famous people’s autopsies often go to show what was really going on behind the scenes all this time. While things might look stable on the surface, that’s often far from the case. The worst part? Sometimes, there might have been more people involved.

Naya Rivera was swimming with her son when she accidentally drowned

The musical comedy-drama show ‘Glee’ was a hit from the off and earned the stars of the series plenty of fame, but things were always far from peaceful behind the scenes. Plenty of ‘Glee’ stars have lost their lives in the years since the show, including Naya Rivera. However, her story is even more tragic due to the circumstances.

Naya was swimming in Lake Piru, California, with her four-year-old son in July 2020. Tragically, while Naya could get her son to safety, she couldn’t get back into the boat. The autopsy revealed her son saw his mother’s body disappear under the surface, with Naya’s remains being found five days later. Her cause of passing? Accidental drowning.

Prince accidentally took too much pain medication following issues with his hip

For years, Prince dominated the music scene. His music was everywhere you turned in the 1980s and ‘90s, but that all ended in April 2016. No one expected the news of Prince’s passing, with many wondering what went wrong. Apparently, his body was discovered by two employees, with coroners ruling he passed away at least six hours earlier.

It took six weeks for the autopsy to be released, revealing Prince lost his life to an accidental overdose of extremely strong pain medication. The musician had been dealing with a weak hip and consequent surgery after years of performing, with former life-threatening doses of the medication coming in at 3 to 58 micrograms. Prince had 67.8.

George Michael tragically lost his life due to a combination of reasons on Christmas Day

Being one-half of Wham! was one thing, but venturing out on his solo career saw George Michael’s name forever cemented in the history books. By the time the ‘80s were over, George was a worldwide household name, but in a twisted irony, the musician was found to have lost his life on Christmas Day in 2016.

Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ will forever be one of the best holiday songs, but how did George pass away at just 53? Apparently, he wasn’t sick when he went to bed on Christmas Eve. However, an autopsy revealed the cause of passing was a combination of a fatty liver and several heart issues that caused inflammation and stretched heart muscles.

Heath Ledger never saw his biggest movie come to life before he accidentally ended his life

Although he made a name for himself in teen movies, it wasn’t long before Heath Ledger proved himself to be a versatile actor. Even today, many argue Heath’s version of the Joker is the best we will ever see. Tragically, while Heath completed the superhero movie ‘The Dark Knight,’ he never saw the final piece come to life.

On January 22, 2008, a housekeeper found 28-year-old Heath face-down on his bed, with police declaring he was gone at the scene. The following month, an autopsy revealed what really happened. Apparently, several medications for sleep, anxiety, and sedation were found in Heath’s system, resulting in a fatal combination that saw the actor accidentally end his own life.

Robin Williams took his own life without ever knowing the truth about his health

For decades, comedian and actor Robin Williams had been the light we needed. Sadly, things hadn't been going well. His acting career had faltered, and Robin was forced to return to the small screen to make ends meet. To make matters worse, a hidden 2014 Parkinson's diagnosis appeared to be the end. In August 2014, the 63-year-old's body was found.

Tragically, the autopsy revealed what his loved ones knew: Robin had ended his own life by hanging and harming himself. However, it also revealed Robin didn't have Parkinson's - he had Lewy body dementia. The symptoms are often impossible to diagnose without seeing someone's brain and cause issues such as memory loss, insomnia, movement issues, paranoia, and problems controlling bodily functions.

Anton Yelchin was accidentally crushed by his car, sparking an investigation into several vehicles

Being just 27 and having recently appeared in the sci-fi ‘Star Trek’ movie franchise left many people wondering how actor Anton Yelchin could have possibly lost his life in June 2016. Sadly, while celebrity passings are tragic enough already, this one seemed to be completely unavoidable. The autopsy revealed Anton suffered blunt traumatic asphyxia, meaning intense compression of the chest.

What happened? An investigation revealed that at around 1 am, Anton arrived at his home gates to check something, possibly the mail. However, the 2015 Grand Jeep Cherokee’s parking brakes failed on the steep hill, crushing Anton and ending his life within a minute. His family has since settled with the company, and thousands of cars have been investigated.

Cory Monteith had been battling illegal substance addiction since childhood when he passed away

Starting the ‘Glee’ curse was Cory Monteith, with his passing taking place while the show was still on the air. The actor was known to play a sweet and loveable jock, but things were far from the case in real life. Instead, Cory had been battling addiction to illegal substances since he was 13 years old.

Sadly, that all came to an end in July 2013 when Cory’s body was found in a hotel room. The actor had entered rehab a few months before - not for the first time - but the autopsy revealed Corey had been gone for hours when he was finally found. Apparently, an accidental combination of drink and narcotics was to blame.

Anna Nicole Smith could have taken as many as nine different medications

For years, people were captivated by Anna Nicole Smith. The model and former Playboy star was in a controversial marriage with an oil tycoon 60 years her senior, but nothing stopped her rise to fame. That was until February 2007, when Anna Nicole's personal nurse found her unconscious in her hotel room. At first, no one knew what happened.

All the world learned was Anna Nicole had flu-like symptoms, but the evidence didn't stop coming. Eventually, investigators ruled there were 11 prescription medications found in her room, with 600 tablets unaccounted for. A later autopsy backed up the claims, stating an accidental overdose of at least nine medications ended Anna Nicole's life at 39 years old.

Whitney Houston’s narcotic addiction might have been worse than anyone realized

There are female singers, and then there’s Whitney Houston. Her huge catalog of songs to her name has seen her inspire a generation of musicians, but things had always been tumultuous behind the scenes. Many had no idea Whitney had been battling illegal substance abuse for years until she was found unconscious in February 2012.

The 48-year-old had allegedly been behaving erratically in the days before. However, when Whitney was found submerged in the bath, things changed forever. The autopsy revealed accidental drowning, and a combination of several narcotics and medications was to blame. It also showed the extent of Whitney’s addiction, as the singer was wearing a wig and dentures in her later years.

Paul Walker might have suffered a worse fate than just being a passenger in a car accident

The world froze in November 2013 when actor Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas were involved in a high-speed car accident. The vehicle burst into flames after hitting two trees, with many assuming the 80 to 93 mph crash was the thing that ended his life. However, an autopsy revealed the 40-year-old suffered a much worse fate.

The autopsy revealed Paul had suffered “thermal injuries,” including fractured bones and charred skin. Plus, his body was shown to have flexed joints due to muscle and tissue contraction from the heat. The soot in his trachea, combined with the high carbon monoxide saturation in his blood, proved Paul was alive while the car was in flames.

Michael K. Williams campaigned for a narcotics-free world before succumbing to his addiction

Some people succumb to their struggles, but it seemed actor Michael K. Williams was willing to use this as inspiration to keep moving forward. Many of his characters in several award-nominated TV shows saw him become a household name, but it was Michael's charity work and organizations that really hit home with so many of his fans.

Michael promoted a life away from narcotics and worked hard to spread awareness about young children being dragged into it all. Unfortunately, September 2021 marked an unforgettable moment as Michael lost his life at 54 years old. Even more tragically, it was due to using laced illegal substances, with the dealer later pleading guilty to distributing narcotics.

Brittany Murphy’s passing has long been debated, thanks to certain autopsy results

Even today, no one is entirely sure what happened to Brittany Murphy. The actress shot to fame in the mid-’90s, but things changed when she married Simon Monjack. Many of her friends said it was the relationship that caused Brittany to lose so much weight, with the star eventually passing away in December 2009 at 32 years old.

In a twist, something preventable ended her life: pneumonia. Apparently, Brittnay reached her time of the month when the sudden blood loss caused serious anemia - an iron deficiency. Being so weak and compromised meant Brittany contracted the illness that ended her life. However, the autopsy revealed high levels of metal in her hair samples, with many thinking Simon was responsible.

Bubba Smith likely had no idea how many health issues he was living with

Being a part of the Baltimore Colts’ Super Bowl 1971 winning team meant Bubba Smith was always going to be one of the greatest players the NFL has ever seen. Just five years later, Bubba retired from the sport, but he quickly transitioned to a relatively successful acting career. Sadly, his passing in 2011 revealed the extent of his health.

Bubba was 66 years old, and weight loss medication was the thing that ultimately ended his life. However, the start also had a heart around twice the size it should be, blocked arteries, and high blood pressure. To make matters worse, Bubba’s brain showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a debilitating brain condition from years of head injuries.

Lucille Ball underwent heart surgery just days before she lost her life

For years, Lucille Ball was the queen of television, who paved the way for so many women in the industry. After one final run in the late-’80s, everything changed. Lucille underwent a six-and-a-half-hour operation on her heart in April 1989, resulting in part of her aorta and an aortic valve being completely replaced. Amazingly, Lucille seemingly recovered.

That was until eight days later when Lucille dropped down and never woke up again. The star was 77 years old, and an autopsy revealed another part of her heart had ruptured, resulting in her passing. Apparently, Lucille had been a long-time user of a certain narcotic as it was once prescribed for chest pain, ultimately causing irreversible damage.

Philip Seymour Hoffman had been clean for decades before a relapse ultimately ended his life

There was a time when Philip Seymour’s life seemingly couldn’t get any better. Although he confessed to using illegal substances throughout his college years, the actor had been sober for decades. That was until 2013 rolled around, and some tough personal struggles saw Philip relapse, ultimately causing his life to end just one year later in February 2014.

The autopsy revealed the true extent of the issues, with traces of at least four different substances found in Philip’s system. Experts have since theorized that being a long-time narcotics user meant Philip struggled to feel the effects of the initial substances and therefore stacked them together, not knowing it was a fatal combination, causing him to pass at 46.

Cameron Boyce had been living with epilepsy for most of his life before passing away

Making a name for himself as a part of Disney was enough to see Cameron Boyce see his career explode overnight. That was until authorities were called to his house in July 2019. Cameron was found unresponsive, with no one entirely sure what caused the actor to lose his life at just 20 until the autopsy results several weeks later.

It turned out Cameron suffered from epilepsy, with a seizure ultimately ending his life. However, it wasn’t entirely simple. Apparently, it was SUDEP that was actually to blame, with Cameron having a seizure and then suddenly losing his life. No one is sure what causes SUDEP, with some experts thinking it interrupts heart rhythm or breathing.

Yvette Vickers’ remains were discovered until months after her passing

Back in the 1950s, Yvette Vickers was the leading sci-fi woman that everyone wanted in their production. That wasn’t all that saw her rise to fame. Yvette was also a former Playboy Playmate, with plenty left in mourning when she lost her life in April 2011. Apparently, a neighbor was concerned when the star hadn’t been seen for months.

After once being one of the most talked-about stars, Yvette’s remains had been sitting in her house for months when the 82-year-old was finally found. The autopsy did reveal the cause of her passing was heart disease. However, they noted the body was in such a state of self-mummification that they needed dental records to even identify them as Yvette.

Junior Seau took his own life, with the autopsy revealing his CTE diagnosis

Spending two decades in the NFL and earning the title as one of the best linebackers the sport has ever seen made Junior Seau the one to watch on the field. The player was a huge part of the sport, but that all ended in May 2012. Junior’s girlfriend found the unconscious player at their home.

That wasn’t all Junior also had a gunshot wound to the chest, with the autopsy revealing he took his own life. Tragically, it also showed Junior was one of many retired NFL players living with CTE. The effects of the degenerative disease are irreversible and often come with symptoms like depression and dementia, perhaps adding to the 43-year-old’s end.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s autopsy never revealed the true way he lost his life

Martin Luther King Jr. will forever be one of history’s most notable figures. His speeches helped to change the US for good, but not everyone was happy with him spreading word of equality and love for all. In fact, someone ultimately ended King’s life at one of his rallies - or did they? That’s what some people have argued.

The medical examiner in charge of the autopsy revealed the bullet went through King’s neck, ending his life. However, a later investigation revealed the doctor never tracked the path of the bullet at all. Even today, no one is entirely sure where King was shot, with many thinking there was more than one person involved, among other theories.

Bob Saget lost his life to a serious head injury, with no one agreeing on how it happened

Initially, it appeared the passing of Bob Saget was cut and dry. The actor and comedian was found unconscious in his hotel room, with blunt force trauma to the head ultimately ending the 65-year-old’s life. So, how did he hit his head in the first place? Bob’s family stated he accidentally hurt himself, fell asleep, and never woke up.

The world learned no drink or narcotics were involved, but something didn’t add up. It wasn’t until a later autopsy that it was revealed Bob had severe head fractures and a ruptured vein that caused bleeding around the brain. Some experts argue a serious fall would have caused the injury, but others aren’t convinced things make sense.

Heath Freeman took a multitude of substances that resulted in him passing away at 41 years old

Being a frequent guest star in TV shows was enough to see Heath Freeman earn a host of fans, with his time in the crime comedy-drama ‘Bones,’ the drama ‘ER,’ and the police procedural show ‘NCIS’ all giving the actor a chance to shine. Sadly, it was Heath’s passing in November 2021 that saw him back in the headlines.

Heath was pronounced to have lost his life, but it took months for the autopsy to be released. It was only then the world learned a combination of narcotics, prescription medication, and drink was to blame for his passing. To make matters worse, many of the medicines were lethal when mixed with drink, resulting in a highly dangerous concoction.

Stephen “tWitch” Boss apparently had no history of mental illness before he took his life

His work as a dancer meant Stephen “tWitch” Bos was already a big name in the industry, but working as a DJ on the talk show ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ really helped tWitch to become a household name. Sadly, everything took a dark turn in December 2022 when he was discovered with a self-inflicted wound that ended his life.

tWitch was 40 years old at the time, but the autopsy revealed that things might have been even more tragic than they seemed on the surface. His wife confessed tWitch had no history of mental illness or thoughts of taking his own life, and the autopsy didn’t show any other wounds or illnesses, leaving many confused and even more saddened.

David Carradine’s passing was ruled as self-inflicted, but not everyone is convinced

David Carradine is one of many successful faces to come from the Carradine acting family, and it didn’t take long for him to follow in the family’s footsteps. Working with director Quentin Tarantino really helped to make him a household name, but David didn’t get to enjoy his return to Hollywood for long before he was found in Bangkok.

Apparently, the actor was found hanging in his hotel room, but the police admitted there was no note, and David was dressed in stockings and a wig when he was found. Although it was initially ruled that David took his own life, many believe the actor was actually in the middle of an intimate moment that went wrong.

John Bonham was known to party hard and drink even more throughout his life

Led Zeppelin is arguably one of the most famous classic rock bands in the world, and a lot of that was down to drummer John Bonham. At least, it was until September 1980. Apparently, he earned the nickname Bonzo - and it wasn't all down to how he played the drums. Bonham was also known to party even harder.

It's said this was something that continued well into his life, with Bonham supposedly drinking 40 servings of drink the day the band met for rehearsals in 1980. Sadly, when he passed out, he never woke up. Interestingly, the autopsy revealed that blood poisoning wasn't to blame for his passing, but asphyxiating after choking on his own vomit.

Garry Shandling had no idea that his leg pain was actually life-threatening before it was too late

Things seemed normal for comedian Garry Shandling on March 23, 2016. However, when he told his friend that his legs hurt and he was struggling to breathe, Garry still wasn’t convinced to go to the hospital. Things continued to get worse the following day, but Garry collapsed after calling 911 and never woke up. Initially, a heart attack was suspected.

However, the police weren’t convinced. The autopsy wasn’t released until December, where it revealed Garry had actually suffered from a pulmonary embolism that was caused by a blood clot in his lungs. This was a result of deep vein thrombosis, something the comedian developed during his recent trip to Hawaii, with the clot dislodging and ending up in Garry’s lungs.

Charlbi Dean Kriek suddenly lost her life several years after a car accident left her more vulnerable

Working as a model was enough to see Charlbi Dean Kreik enjoy a smooth transition into acting. She was on the brink of stardom with her role in the comedy-drama movie ‘Triangles of Sadness,’ but Charlbi’s rise to the top was cut short in August 2022 when her team announced the star had suddenly lost her life.

Charlbi was just 32 years old at the time, with an autopsy finally giving the world some answers. Apparently, the star had contracted bacterial sepsis from a type of bacteria found in humans and animals. Although it is linked to a number of health conditions, Charlbi was particularly susceptible to it after having her spleen removed in 2009.

Heather O’Rourke was taken from the world before reaching her teenage years

Appearing in the horror classic ‘Poltergeist’ and the subsequent sequels were always going to see Heather O’Rourke go down as a legend. Tragically, the child star never got to enjoy what could have been an incredible career. That’s because the final film in the trilogy came out just weeks after Heather’s 12th birthday - and four months after she passed away.

It’s said Heather started to complain about extreme pain in her stomach, which resulted in an immediate trip to the hospital. Sadly, it was too late. Once here, Heather was taken through for emergency surgery, where she lost her life. The autopsy confirmed she had a severe bowel obstruction her entire life, which ultimately resulted in septic shock.

Bob Crane’s passing has never been solved, but the autopsy did debunk one wild rumor

Several things about the passing of Bob Crane have never made sense. The actor and former DJ was rapidly climbing the ladder of fame when someone ended his life at 49 years old. That’s not all. It appeared Bob had been bludgeoned with a camera tripod in his room, but no one was ever charged with ending his life.

Plus, it’s believed the tripod was once used to film Bob’s intimate moments. A friend of the star’s was taken to trial a decade later but acquitted. Amazingly, the autopsy was initially performed where Bob was found, revealing bruises and signs of strangulation after he passed away. It also debunked the rumor Bob had an implant in his downstairs region.

Aaron Carter struggled with addiction for most of his life before accidentally drowning at home

Like many other child stars, Aaron Carter followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Nick Carter. Nick was a part of the Backstreet Boys, and it wasn’t long before Aaron had a career of his own. Sadly, things quickly went downhill as the star fell into the world of drinking and illegal substances, ultimately falling out with his family.

Aaron admitted to a host of mental health issues and was in and out of rehab for much of his life. By November 2022, things took a tragic turn, as Aaron was found passed out in his bathtub. Despite best efforts, he passed away, with an autopsy report confirming Aaron had taken a mixture of narcotics and medication before drowning.

Tyler Sanders couldn’t win his battle against illegal substances

Being a child star can be a blessing - and a curse. Although Tyler Sanders was quickly landing a host of roles in several TV shows and working with some big names in the industry, it didn’t stop his depression and substance abuse from gripping much of his life. Eventually, the latter caught up with Tyler in June 2022.

The star was just 18 years old and told a friend the night before he was taking illegal substances. However, when they didn’t hear anything the next day, the friend arrived at Tyler’s home and found they were too late. The autopsy report was released six months later and confirmed that an accidental overdose was responsible.

Natalie Wood’s passing continues to confuse people several decades later

Even today, people continue to debate what really happened to Natalie Wood in November 1981. The actress was at the peak of her career and boating with her husband, Robert Wagner, when something caused her to lose her life. The initial coroner stated it was accidental drowning and hypothermia but added there were bruises and cuts on her face.

Natalie also had a number of medications in her system, but it was claimed these were to battle sea sickness. The case was closed before it was reopened in 2011, with authorities reporting the cuts and bruises were caused before Natalie entered the water, with many thinking there is far more to Natalie’s passing than a tragic accident.

Tawny Kitaen was found to have lost her life at home after overcoming her addictions

The 1980s were filled with rock and metal bands all looking for women to bring their lyrics of lust, love, and affection to life. That’s where Tawny Kitaen came in. She quickly earned parts in a handful of movies and TV shows, but in 2008, Tawny was back in the form of the reality show ‘Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.’

It turned out Tawny had been battling addiction for many years, but things seemed to be back on track. Sadly, Tawny’s name was everywhere again in May 2021 when the 59-year-old was found to have passed away at home. Five months later, the autopsy revealed an enlarged heart was primarily to blame for Tawny’s passing.

Johnny Lewis lost his life in an accident after ending the life of his landlady

It looked as though Johnny Lewis had all he needed to climb his way up the ladder of fame. He landed several supporting roles in various TV shows but quit the industry after he grew sick of the violent storylines in the drama show ‘Sons of Anarchy.’ Sadly, this was a major turning point in Johnny’s life.

Ultimately, the star ended up on the wrong side of the law. Although Johnny was released from jail in 2012 and moved in with the wealthy Cathy Davis, things didn’t improve. Johnny was found to have lost his life after jumping or falling from the roof, but not before taking Cathy’s life. Strangely, no narcotics were found in his system.

Errol Flynn’s partying ways all caught up with him in the end

The Golden Age of Hollywood saw plenty of stars hit unprecedented levels of fame. Errol Flynn was one of the many who got to enjoy the incredible heights of it all, but things were far from conventional. After an unusual start to his career, Errol earned a reputation for his wild parties and constant rule-breaking persona.

By 1959, Errol was desperate for money. The retired actor headed to Canada to sell his yacht but collapsed and lost his life to a heart attack. It wasn’t until the autopsy that the coroners realized Errol had the body of a 75-year-old, despite being just 50 years old. Apparently, years of drinking caught up with him.

Anne Heche’s cause of passing was changed after a new report was conducted

August 2022 marked the moment that would change Anne Heche’s life forever. The actress was in a number of car accidents before finally hitting a house, causing the vehicle and building to catch on fire. Anne was pulled from the wreckage after 45 minutes, with 40% burns to her entire body and significant smoke inhalation.

Sadly, Anne lost her life after six days in a coma. Initially, the autopsy claimed the star was under the influence of several narcotics. However, a later report stated there were trace inactive elements of them both, meaning Anne wasn’t feeling the effects. Whatever caused her to crash, smoke inhalation, burns, and a fractured sternum all contributed to her passing.

Marilyn Monroe was ruled to have taken her own life, but many aren’t convinced

Marilyn Monroe will forever be one of the most famous names and faces in Hollywood. Tragically, her life was filled with more darkness than many realized - and theories about her passing have rife ever since. The model and actress was just 36 years old when her body was discovered in August 1962. Apparently, she hadn’t been responding to the maid.

It wasn’t until Marilyn’s psychiatrist broke through the window that they found her tangled in the bed sheets with her phone in her hand. The autopsy revealed an overdose was to blame, with the coroner ruling it was self-inflicted. Despite reports Marilyn had been suffering with her mental health, others aren’t convinced she took her own life.

Amy Winehouse had been sober for a period before drinking ended her life

Her powerful vocals were one thing, but Amy Winehouse’s iconic look was what really helped her to stand out from the crowd. The British singer was one of the biggest of her generation, but things were never easy for the star. The more famous she became, the more issues of Amy’s addiction and drinking came to light.

In July 2011, it caught up with 27-year-old Amy, who was found to have lost her life at home. The first autopsy was invalid, as the coroner didn’t have the proper credentials needed. However, it was later discovered that after a period of sobriety, Amy had returned to drinking and lost her life to blood poisoning after a heavy session.

Michael Jackson lost his life before he could start his farewell tour

The King of Pop had always been one of the biggest names in music, but it seemed Micahel Jackson’s 2009 tour was somewhat of a goodbye. The musician had been dominating the scene since the 1980s, but personal issues and his health meant Michael was slowing things down. Sadly, the tour never came as Michael lost his life.

The musician was 50 years old when he was found to be not breathing. Ultimately, the doctor involved with his treatment was charged with taking his life, stating he gave Michael a strong anesthetic instead of a sleeping aid, ending his life. This was the only thing found in Michael’s system, with no other health issues to blame.

Carrie Fisher was known to take illegal substances, which might have contributed to her passing

Believe it or not, but Carrie Fisher was in her early 20s when she joined the sci-fi ‘Star Wars’ franchise, earning her a permanent spot in Hollywood’s history books. However, things weren't entirely smooth behind the scenes, with Carrie herself being open about her addiction to illegal substances. Sadly, this continued well into her later life.

In December 2016, when Carrie was 60, she was flying from London to Los Angeles when she collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Tragically, she never recovered. Several illegal substances were found in Carrie’s system, with many thinking they were to blame, but the autopsy perhaps surprisingly listed her official cause of passing as sleep apnea.

Brandon Lee lost his life in a tragic accident while filming The Crow

Accidents on movie sets are sadly nothing new. That was something Brandon Lee was about to learn the hard way. Being the son of Bruce Lee was one thing, but Brandon was also one of the fastest-rising stars of Hollywood at the time. At 28 years old, he was about to star in another hit movie, ‘The Crow.’

The action fantasy film was meant to see the villain of the movie “shoot” Brandon, but everything went wrong. No one had any idea that a projectile was stuck in the prop weapon, meaning it fired out when they fired it again. The autopsy later confirmed the fragment was wedged in Brandon’s spine, ending his life almost immediately.