Sonny Liston Autopsy Report

January 27, 1971

Traces of Morphine and Codeine were found in the body tissue of Sonny Liston, but not enough to cause his death, according to a coroner's report.

The report attributed Liston's death to lung congestion brought on by a poor oxygen and nutrient blood supply to the heart muscle.

Clark County Coroner, Mark Herman, said the amounts of Morphine and Codeine found in Liston's tissue corresponded to the amounts which would normally result from a breakdown of heroin in the body.

Mark Herman, said that tests also showed that Liston suffered from
hardening of the heart muscle and pulmonary emphysema, a disease
involved in enlarged air-sacs in the lungs.

 

There were so many mystery findings reported.
Amounts of Heroin and Marijuana.

Have never been able to get a clear understanding from the police reports.
There were several Life Insurance Policy's taken out on Sonny.

If this was a self-inflicted overdose or related to suicide, the cap pay-out would have been limited.

 

Not sure why it wasn't invstigated thouroughly.

Could be that Sonny was seen with many celebrity types and Las Vegas personalities just days before his death, and nobody wanted to be linked to an investigation.

Redd Foxx
Godfrey Cambridge
Rosey Grier
Nipsey Russell
Ash Resnick
Doris Day

 

The Las Vegas Sheriff's department was not very forth-coming with their findings.
Poor investigative work.

You do have to remember, in December 1970/January 1971, Sonny Liston was
somewhat of a forgotten soul.

Besides appearances at the Las Vegas Casinos throughout 1970, and the Chuck Wepner fight in June 1970, he was not in the limelight.

 

On the Doris Day connection;

When she came to Las Vegas in 1970 to perform, I believe at the Desert Inn,
Sonny was her personal celebrity bodyguard.

Also, Sonny Liston was to be a guest star on her Doris Day TV Show for the
upcoming 1971 season.

I'm guessing they were good friends.

Godfrey Cambridge was friends from Los Angeles, and were hanging out there together in
September/October 1970.

 

Sonny may have been partying a bit, and dabbling in drugs, but I believe it
was probably natural causes.

Sonny lived in a quiet golf course community neighborhood, and there never reports
of much late night activity at his home.

It looks like he partied a little too hard one night or day, and his body quit on him.

 

tito,

To give you an idea how far off the first reports of Sonny Liston's death were.

First reports were;
1) He was found dead in his rented apartment, on the west side of Las Vegas.
2) It was a $175 month unit, on the shady side of town, named West Side Terrace
3) He was broke.
4) He was found with a needle in his arm.
5) He had been dead for a week.
6) Drug overdose.
7) A drug addict, heavy heroin use.
8) He was found with only $60 on his person.
9) Had been living alone for 6 months.
10) Owed bookies money.
11) Strong-armed the wrong people.
12) Was tied to under-world mob-types.
13) Drug-deal gone bad.
14) Had no car, minimal clothes and no money.
15) Had been living like a recluse for over a year.
16) Was killed over a $400 drug deal.

 

Looks, like he was burning the candle from both ends.

Late night partying
Heavy drinking
Minimal rest
Stress

His wife had been away since December 24, and he was was on a 5-day binge.