Robin Williams’ cause of death has been ruled a suicide, a coroner in Marin County, Calif., confirmed that the late actor died of asphyxia after hanging himself with a belt.
PEOPLE reports that a press conference was held early Tuesday morning by law officials and the coroner’s office of the San Francisco Bay Area, where it was revealed what caused the legendary actor/comic’s untimely death.
On Monday, August 11, Williams was found dead in his bedroom by a personal assistant, just before noon. A call to 911 was then placed immediately after, in which Williams’ distraught assistant informed the dispatcher that it appeared the actor had hung himself and that “rigor mortis had set in.” When firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:02 p.m., they pronounced Williams dead. He was 63.
Coroner Lt. Keith Boyd told press members, “Williams was found clothed, slightly suspended in a seated position, and unresponsive with a belt around his neck.” The other end of the belt it’s reported was found closed inside the closet. There were also several cuts found on Williams’ left wrist, a pocket knife layed nearby.
No mention of drugs or alcohol potentially being involved were made during the press conference. The coroner also refused to answer if a suicide note was found at the scene. The forensic examination and toxicology report will be available in approximately two to six weeks, Boyd noted.
Prior to his death, Robin Williams sought treatment for substance and alcohol abuse, as well as undergoing treatment for severe depression, most recently as July his rep confirmed.
Robin’s wife Susan Schneider last saw her husband alive on Sunday night, Aug. 10, at around 10:30 p.m. She returned to the couple’s Tiburon, California home shortly after the tragedy occurred.
Robin Williams is survived by his wife Susan and his 3 children.
