Hot off the wire – August 16, 1977

This was the first bulletin that day. Later reports on August 16th gave notice of Elvis dying of respiratory failure.

Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. He was found unresponsive on the floor of his Graceland mansion bathroom by his fiancée Ginger Alden. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. The official coroner’s report listed the cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular and ineffective heartbeat. However, further investigation revealed a combination of factors contributed to his death. Presley had a history of health issues, including high blood pressure, an enlarged colon, and a weakened immune system. He was also struggling with prescription drug abuse, particularly barbiturates, amphetamines, and sedatives, which likely exacerbated his heart condition. The autopsy found multiple prescription drugs in his system, including high levels of drugs like Dilaudid, Percodan, and Quaaludes, though no illegal drugs were present. His heart was enlarged, a condition known as cardiomegaly, which can lead to sudden cardiac events. Speculation and conspiracy theories, like drug overdose or foul play, have persisted, but the medical consensus points to a heart-related event worsened by his lifestyle and drug use.