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Casey Johnson. Photo by AP.
Socialite Casey Johnson died of a complication of
diabetes, the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday.
Johnson, 30, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson health care
products fortune, died of diabetic ketoacidosis, the coroner
said in a brief statement. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a
life-threatening condition caused by lack of insulin and
sky-high blood sugar.
An autopsy was conducted January 5, a day after Johnson's
body was found at her home. The coroner's office said it
would not be able to discuss specifics until the autopsy
report and toxicology results become available within two
weeks.
Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner in New York
City, said Johnson probably slipped into a diabetic coma, but
people can usually be resuscitated from that in the first 24
hours.
"If you have somebody with diabetes, there should be somebody
checking up on that person," said Baden, who has been an
expert witness in cases involving the late comedian John
Belushi and former pro football star O.J. Simpson.
A message left for a family spokesman was not immediately
returned.
Johnson, the daughter of New York Jets owner Robert "Woody"
Johnson, lived a party life. In December, she announced her
engagement to bisexual reality TV star Tila Tequila.
Her body was flown east for a private funeral.
Johnson had been an insulin-dependent diabetic since
childhood. A memorial fund in her name was set up with the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Her father is chairman
of that organisation and co-author of the book Managing
Your Child's Diabetes.
Casey Johnson lived in a quiet neighborhood behind big wooden
gates marked "Grumblenot," but she often partied with high
school friend and fellow heiress Paris Hilton.
Johnson was charged in December with burglary and receiving
stolen property for allegedly taking $22,000 in clothing,
jewelry and other items from a friend's home. She pleaded not
guilty and faced a February hearing.
She is survived by her parents, two younger sisters, and an
adopted child she named Ava-Monroe, after her idol, Marilyn
Monroe.
