No Criminal Charges Filed In Prince's Death

CARVER COUNTY, MN — Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announced Thursday there will be no criminal charges filed following a two-year investigation into the death of global rockstar and Minnesota native Prince Rogers Nelson. The investigation showed Prince unknowingly took the counterfeit Vicodin containing fentanyl that killed him, but law enforcement were unable to find the source of the illegal drug.

"There is no evidence that the pill or pills that actually killed Prince were prescribed by a doctor. There is also no evidence to suggest any other sinister motive, intent or conspiracy to murder Prince," Metz said at a press conference. "The evidence suggest that Prince had long suffered significant pain, became addicted to pain medications but took efforts to protect his privacy."

Metz said the fact that Prince did not own a cell phone made the investigation more difficult.

"We simply do not have sufficient evidence to charge anyone with a crime related to Prince's death," Metz added. "Prince's death is a tragic example that opioid addiction and overdose deaths do not discriminate no matter the demographic. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the family, friends and vast legion of Prince's fans."

While no criminal chargers were filed, a physician who treated Prince, Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg, has agreed to pay the federal government a $30,000 fine for alleged controlled substance violations.

Federal prosecutors say Schulenberg violated the Controlled Substances Act when he allegedly prescribed the opioid painkiller oxycodone to Prince under the name of the musician's bodyguard and friend, Kirk Johnson. Schulenberg did so to preserve Prince's privacy, according to investigative documents released last year.

Schulenberg denies the allegation, but says he agreed to settle with the government to avoid the expense of litigation, the Associated Press reported.

Schulenberg's attorney, Amy Conners, said in a statement Thursday that "there have been no allegations made by the Government that Dr. Schulenberg had any role in Prince's death."

Prince was found dead at 57 in his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis, on April 21, 2016. He died of an accidental overdose after taking fentanyl, an opioid painkiller that is highly addictive, a medical examiner found.

"Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him," Metz said Thursday.

The two-year investigation since his death focused on where Prince obtained the fentanyl, but the source was never determined.

Witnesses interviewed after his death said Prince had a recent history of withdrawals, "which are believed to be the result of the abuse of prescription medication," investigative documents state.

Detectives believe Prince used the alias "Peter Bravestrong" while traveling. During the search warrant of Prince's home, authorities found numerous narcotic controlled substance pills in Prince's bedroom, some of which were in a suitcase with the name tag of "Peter Bravestrong."

In the "Purple Rain Room" of Prince's house in Chanhassen, authorities found a pamphlet for "Recovery Without Walls," an organization that describes itself as "a personalized outpatient clinic, specializing in innovative, evidence-based medical treatment for chronic pain and drug and alcohol addiction."

Six days before his death, Prince passed out on a plane, forcing an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois. He was revived using a drug that reverses an opioid overdose.

Photo: Prince performs during the 'Pepsi Halftime Show' at Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)