Doubts remain over Heath Ledger death

The family of Australian actor Heath Ledger has been told that it may have to wait for another two weeks before the exact cause of his death can be determined.

The New York Medical Examiner’s Office released the body of the film star today after he was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday afternoon.

The office said that initial autopsy tests have proved inconclusive.

The announcement follows a day of frenzied speculation about how, why and precisely when the 28-year-old actor died.

Police say that Mr Ledger was been found surrounded by as many as six prescription drugs - including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety and an antihistamine - and a rolled-up $20.

One story, later denied by police, suggested that a suicide note had been found near the body.

As the rumour mill went into overdrive, Mr Ledger’s remains were transferred to the Frank E Campbell funeral chapel while arrangements are made to have the body returned to Australia for burial.

The New York funeral home has hosted many famous people over the years including Jackie Kennedy Onassis, John Lennon and Judy Garland.

The Australian consulate in New York has offered to help repatriate Mr Ledger’s body to Perth in Western Australia, the city where the Hollywood actor was born and raised - and where is expected to be buried.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman in Canberra says the consulate has been in contact with the Ledger family and has offered its full assistance.

"We are handling the arrangements," she said, "but I cannot confirm any other information at this time."

As tributes to the actor continued to pour in from around the globe his former private school in Perth, Guildford Grammar, announced that it is planning a formal memorial service in the school chapel for the dead actor.

Robert Zordan, the principal, said the school had made the offer to the Ledger family, but was still waiting to hear back: "In respect for that family and the time that is needed I will now simply await for their response."

The New York Medical Examiner’s office, meanwhile, says initial autopsy tests on Ledger’s body have proved inconclusive, warning that it may be 10 days or longer before full toxicology results are available.

It denied that any traces of recreational drugs had been found on the $20 note or anywhere else in the apartment.

"We did the autopsy and the result was inconclusive," said spokeswoman Ellen Borakove.

"We have to do some additional testing which includes toxicology testing and tissue testing. We estimate it will be another 10 days to two weeks until we have any final results."

Police say that their investigations have also failed to find any evidence of foul play in Ledger’s death or attempts by the actor to kill himself.

"They’ve gone through the apartment," NYPD detective Kevin Czartoryski said of the police investigation. "Now it’s a wait and see when the results come back on the toxicology. There’s no signs of any criminality or foul play. No illegal drugs have been found, no foul play and no obvious signs of suicide."

Police also revealed there was evidence that Ledger was alive less than three hours before emergency crews were called to his apartment by his housekeeper, who discovered his naked, cold body lying under a sheet.

In other developments, Ledger’s former fiancée Michelle William and the couple’s two-year-old daughter have returned to New York from Sweden, where the actress is currently filming Mammoth.

A distraught Williams, 27, was being comforted by family and friends in the Brooklyn home she formerly shared with Ledger.

Williams and her daughter ignored the waiting media pack and went straight into the home after flying in from Stockholm.

It is not known whether they will attend his funeral in Australia.

Mr Ledger’s family in Perth have made no further comment since fronting a press conference outside their house on Wednesday.

Via telegraph.co.uk