Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of the late Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, died on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54. She was a singer, songwriter, and heir of the King of Rock and Roll. Her death shocked and saddened her fans and family, who were still grieving the loss of her son Benjamin Keough, who killed himself in 2020. But what was the cause of death of Lisa Marie Presley? How did she die so suddenly and unexpectedly? Here is what we know so far.
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The official cause of death: complications from prior weight-loss surgery
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report, Lisa Marie Presley’s death was caused by a “sequelae of a small bowel obstruction”. A small bowel obstruction is a blockage in the small intestine, often because of things like scar tissue, a hernia or cancer. Without surgery, it can cause bowel tissue to die or perforate, leading to death.
In Presley’s case, the report found that the obstruction was caused by adhesions (or, scar tissue) that developed after bariatric surgery she underwent several years ago. Bariatric surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach or bypasses part of the digestive system. It can help people with obesity lose weight and improve their health, but it also has some risks and complications.
One of the possible complications is adhesions, which are bands of scar tissue that form between organs or tissues after surgery or injury. They can cause organs or tissues to stick together or twist, creating blockages or kinks in the intestines. This can lead to pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or obstruction.
The medical examiner’s report stated that this was a “known long term complication of this type of surgery”. It also said that there was no evidence of injury or foul play, and that the manner of death was deemed natural.
The medications found in her system: not contributory to death
The autopsy report also revealed that Lisa Marie Presley had some medications in her system at the time of her death. These included oxycodone (a painkiller), quetiapine metabolite (used to treat depression, schizophrenia or manic episodes), and buprenorphine (a painkiller that can also be used to treat opioid addiction).
However, the report said that these medications were not contributory to her death. The levels of oxycodone in her blood were “therapeutic”, meaning that they were in the range of medically helpful, and not dangerous. The other two drugs were present but “not contributory to death”.
Some experts have suggested that these medications may have slowed down the motility of the intestine and made it more likely for it to get obstructed by the adhesions. However, this is not a definite conclusion, and it is possible that Presley would have developed the complication regardless of the medications.
The symptoms before her death: abdominal pain and cardiac arrest
The medical examiner’s report also detailed that Lisa Marie Presley was complaining of abdominal pain on the morning of her death. She was at her home in Calabasas, California, when she collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Dr. Folasade P. May, an associate professor of medicine at UCLA and director of a gastroenterology program, told CNN that she suspects Presley “developed a cardiac arrest because she had a severe complication from the small bowel obstruction”. She explained that when the bowel tissue dies or perforates, it can release toxins and bacteria into the bloodstream, causing sepsis (a life-threatening infection) and shock (a drop in blood pressure). This can lead to organ failure and cardiac arrest.
Dr. May also said that deaths from small bowel obstructions are rare. In many cases, patients experience significant pain and would probably be admitted to hospital. She added that adhesions can happen to anybody who has had abdominal surgery.
The legacy she left behind: music and family
Lisa Marie Presley followed in her father’s footsteps as a musician and released three albums over the course of her career. Her debut album, To Whom It May Concern (2003), reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold. Her second album, Now What (2005), also reached No. 9 on the chart and featured a duet with her father on his song “Don’t Cry Daddy”. Her third album, Storm & Grace (2012), was produced by T Bone Burnett and received positive reviews from critics.
Presley was also well-known for four high-profile marriages: to musician Danny Keough, pop star Michael Jackson, actor Nicolas Cage, and musician Michael Lockwood. She had four children: Riley Keough and Benjamin Keough from her first marriage, and Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood from her fourth marriage.
Presley was very close to her children and often shared photos of them on social media. She was especially devastated by the death of her son Benjamin, who died by suicide at the age of 27 in 2020. She wrote on Instagram that he was “the love of my life” and that she was “trying to put all the pieces of my heart back together”.
After her death, her mother Priscilla Presley filed a legal challenge to the will’s validity, arguing that she was unaware of a 2016 amendment that had ousted her as a trustee overseeing Lisa Marie’s estate. The amendment named Benjamin and Riley as co-trustees. The legal dispute was settled in May 2023, but the details were never made public.
Lisa Marie Presley was buried next to her son Benjamin at Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. She is survived by her mother, her three daughters, and her grandchildren. She is also remembered by her fans and friends, who have paid tribute to her talent, beauty, and kindness. She was a beloved daughter of rock and roll, who left behind a legacy of music and family.
