Police Question Whether Talk Show Producer Staged Her Sister's Suicide to Cover Murder

A daytime TV talk show producer was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released today while an investigation continues into the death of a woman -- possibly her sister -- at her Studio City home.

Jill Blackstone, 52, was arrested Monday, according to jail records. Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section said prosecutors asked police to conduct more investigation before deciding whether to file charges, so she was released from custody.

Jail records show she was released late this afternoon.

The entertainment website TMZ.com reported that Blackstone told authorities there was a suicide victim and three dead dogs in the garage of her Studio City home, but authorities thought the suicide note looked suspicious. The woman was Blackstone’s 49-year-old sister, according to TMZ.

Lt. Elissa Fleak of the coroner’s office identified the dead woman as Wendy Blackstone and said the cause of death was pending the results of toxicology tests.

According to TMZ, Jill Blackstone has worked on such programs as “The Jerry Springer Show,” “Rosie” and “Sally Jessy Raphael.”

• City News Service
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