Erica Blasberg - Death

Death

Blasberg was found dead with a plastic bag secured over her head at her Henderson, Nevada home on the afternoon of May 9, 2010, according to local police. Officers had been dispatched in response to a 911 call by Dr. Thomas Hess around 3:00 PM (PT). In an interview with the Riverside County Press-Enterprise on May 10, Blasberg's father, Mel Blasberg, was quoted saying, "At first glance it looks like she might have taken her own life, but at second glance, something is very, very strange about it. We're waiting for the police to make an investigation." Missy Pederson, who was supposed to be Blasberg's caddy at a May 10 qualifying round for the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama, told the New York Times that Blasberg had sent her a text in the early morning hours of May 9. In the message, Blasberg told Pederson she was not going to play in the tournament. A worried Pederson sent a text back to Blasberg, asking if she was all right, but Blasberg never replied. However, Blasberg's agent revealed that Blasberg's bags were packed at the time of her death.

On May 13, 2010, police in Henderson, Nevada, executed a search warrant for the home and office of Hess in the ongoing investigation into Blasberg's death. The search warrant listed an anti-anxiety medication, Xanax, plastic garbage bags, and a sample of Hess's handwriting. An inventory of the materials seized in the search of Hess's house included two computers, a cell phone, two video cameras and a GPS unit. A computer and white trash bags were seized from Hess's office. CBS also reported that a white trash bag, similar to the one seized from Hess's office or home, was found near Blasberg's body. Blasberg's father appeared on The Early Show on June 2, 2010, and denied that his daughter was clinically depressed, having financial troubles or was otherwise unhappy with her recent performances.

On August 24, 2010, the Clark County Coroner's office ruled Blasberg's death a suicide. Asphyxia was cited as the primary cause, with multiple prescription drugs named as an additional "significant factor." The drugs in Blasberg’s system included butalbital, temazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), codeine, hydrocodone, and tramadol, according to the coroner. Nevada law does not permit the release of details on the amounts of medication.

Henderson police said foul play was not suspected, but issued an arrest warrant for Hess, who discovered the body, on obstruction of justice charges. In November 2010, Hess admitted to removing a suicide note and prescription pills from the scene "to spare the family embarrassment.” He pled guilty to misdemeanor obstruction, and was sentenced to one year’s probation and 40 hours of community service. The handwritten suicide note revealed that Blasberg had attempted suicide many times in the months leading up to her death, and she admitted to being lonely and feeling tormented by the lack of success in her golf career.