There will be no criminal charges related to the accidental overdose death of legendary pop singer Prince in 2016, according to ABC News Thursday.
“Despite the intensive law enforcement investigation, there is no reliable evidence showing how Prince obtained the counterfeit vicodin laced with fentanyl or who else may have had a role in delivering the counterfeit vicodin to Prince,” Carver County Attorney Mark Metz told reporters.
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“Therefore without probable cause and no identifiable suspect the Carver County’s attorney’s office can not file any criminal charges involving the death of Prince,” he added.
Prince Rogers Nelson, who was found dead in his home in April 2016, died from an accidental fentanyl overdose. The singer was reportedly using vicodin for pain management when he “unknowingly” took counterfeit vicodin pills laced with fentanyl.
“Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him,” Metz shared.
However, Dr. Michael T. Schulenberg, who wrote a prescription for Prince in another person’s name a week before his death, has agreed to pay $30,000 to settle civil charges over writing an illegal prescription.
“Dr. Schulenberg prescribed Schedule 2 controlled substances in the name of an individual knowing that the controlled substances were intended to be used by another individual,” U.S. Attorney Greg Brooker explained. “As licensed professionals, doctors are held to a high level of accountability in their prescribing practices, especially when it comes to highly addictive painkillers.”