Warrant: Pharmacy search in Las Vegas was for anesthetic named in Michael Jackson case

Warrant: Jackson case search was about anesthetic

LAS VEGAS — Police and federal agents sought records showing a Nevada pharmacy was the source of a potent anesthetic being investigated as a possible key in Michael Jackson’s death, according to court documents made public Thursday.

A search warrant filed in Clark County District Court shows Los Angeles police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents were looking for evidence that Dr. Conrad Murray or his employees bought the anesthetic propofol from Applied Pharmacy Services.

Authorities have focused on propofol as a central element in Jackson’s death on June 25 at age 50. The drug is usually administered by anesthesia professionals in medical settings to render patients unconscious for procedures.

Murray told investigators he gave Jackson the drug as a sleep aid, along with multiple sedatives, in the hours before Jackson died, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official requested anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Tuesday’s warrant shows detectives hoped to find records including credit card receipts, shipping orders or mailing lists showing that Murray or his employees bought prescription medications “including but not limited to” propofol on May 12.

The warrant lists two specific lot numbers of propofol and their manufacturers.

After a 90-minute search, investigators seized only paperwork from the pharmacy, the warrant shows. No details are provided.

The search came two weeks after police and DEA agents served warrants and removed records and items from Murray’s Las Vegas home and medical office. Authorities also searched a Las Vegas storage facility but reported removing nothing.

On July 22, police and the DEA seized computer hard drives, medical equipment invoices, phone records and other items from Murray’s Houston clinic and a rented storage unit.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Monday it completed its work determining Jackson’s cause of death.

But officials said the results — including an analysis of medications found in Jackson’s system — won’t be made public until the police investigation is complete.

Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins in Los Angeles contributed to this report.