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Dozens Of Drug Glassines Reportedly Found In Philip Seymour Hoffman's Apartment
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 3, 2014
Modified Feb 3, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 3, 2014
Modified Feb 3, 2014
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Yesterday, a friend and a personal assistant found actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dead in a West Village apartment. Hoffman, considered one of the most brilliant actors of his generation, apparently had a syringe in his arm, empty glassines of heroin were found nearby. Now a police source tells the Wall Street Journal that Hoffman's ex informed cops "he appeared to be high when she saw and spoke to him the day before he died from an apparent drug overdose."
Mimi O'Donnell, who has three children with Hoffman and was estranged from him, was worried when Hoffman didn't pick up their kids.
Mimi O'Donnell told investigators that she last saw the actor Saturday at 2 p.m. on the street near his West Village apartment and that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs, the official said. She spoke to him on the phone around 8 p.m. Saturday and said he again sounded high, the official said.
...Mr. Hoffman, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Truman Capote in "Capote," didn't show up to pick up his children at 9 a.m., so Ms. O'Donnell called [David Bar] Katz, the official said. When he couldn't gain entry, he contacted [Hoffman's assistant Isabella] Wing-Davey, who had a set of keys to the apartment, the official said.
They discovered him in a T-shirt and boxer shorts, still wearing glasses, the official said.
Further, police found "49 glassines believed to contain heroin" at the 35 Bethune Street apartment, plus "several prescription drugs in the kitchen to treat anxiety, high blood pressure, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as an addiction treatment medication."
According to the NY Times, "The plastic envelopes near Mr. Hoffman’s body were stamped with two drug brands. One read Ace of Spades in purple lettering and the other had a red icon of the ace of hearts, according to a law enforcement official. Narcotics detectives from the New York Police Department were investigating whether the brands had any significance or had played a role in other overdoses. Investigators also planned to test the substances to see if they had been tainted, though there was no initial indication that they had been."
There has been a rise in heroin-related deaths, and police sources tell the Post they're making it a priority to track down Hoffman's dealer.
Hoffman battled substance abuse issues in his early 20s and went into rehab last year. He had gone to Sundance last month and was spotted at the Broadway production of 'Waiting for Godot' last week. The Daily News reports, "Another source said Hoffman in recent months had been going to West Village bars Automatic Slims and WXOU and 'didn’t look in good health.' Saturday night, he sat with two other men and dined on a cheeseburger and two cranberry and sodas at Automatic Slims."
The Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy with toxicology tests.
Tagged
heroin
overdose
philip seymour hoffman
west village
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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