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StumbleDeath of golfer Erica Blasberg ruled suicide; doctor accused of obstruction
AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli
Erica Blasberg tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of the LPGA Corning Classic golf tournament in Corning, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2008.
Published Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 | 12:08 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 | 3:28 p.m.
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- 911 call: Dr. Thomas Hess reports death of Erica Blasberg
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Thomas Hess
Sun Archives
- Dad of dead LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg focuses on relationship with doctor (8-3-10)
- Doctor’s office searched in LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg’s death (6-1-10)
- Memorial held for LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg of Henderson (5-19-10)
- LPGA player Erica Blasberg, 25, dies in Henderson (5-10-10)
- Agent: LPGA golfer’s bags were packed for tourney (5-11-10)
The death of 25-year-old professional golfer Erica Blasberg, who was found dead in her Henderson home May 9, was ruled a suicide Tuesday by the Clark County Coroner's Office.
The Henderson Police Department also issued an arrest warrant for Dr. Thomas Hess on suspicion of obstruction of justice for allegedly removing items from the scene before officers arrived. Police said Hess surrendered at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday and was booked into the Henderson Detention Center. He was released at 2:20 p.m. after posting bail of $637.
Police said foul play isn't suspected in Blasberg's death.
Police responded at 3:15 p.m. May 9 to Blasberg's home in the Anthem community in the 2600 block of Hotel de Ville Terrace, where they found her dead with a plastic bag over her head, investigators said.
The conclusion of the investigation caps months of speculation about the young golfer's death.
Hess, who called 911 that day, admitted to altering the scene by hiding Blasberg's suicide note in his vehicle, along with prescription medication taken from her house, according to a statement released by the Henderson Police Department. Hess had stopped cooperating with detectives during the investigation, police said Tuesday.
The coroner ruled Blasberg's death a suicide due to asphyxia and toxic levels of prescription medication in her system.
"While asphyxia was the primary couse of death, the presence of prescription drugs in Ms. Blasberg's system was a significant factor," Coroner Mike Murphy said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with her family as they move through this tragedy."
The prescription drugs found in her system included headache, cough, pain and anti-anxiety medications, according to the toxicology report. Under Nevada law, the coroner can't release details about the amount of medication present, only the presence of it.
Officials said the investigation was delayed because forensic testing by an outside laboratory took about eight weeks.
In the 911 recording released Tuesday by Henderson Police, Hess is heard telling the dispatcher he stopped by Blasberg's house because he was concerned about her. She was supposed to be leaving for a golf tournament, but Hess said she sounded intoxicated on the phone the night before. He said he knew Blasberg through a golf club.
A portrait of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg is displayed at her memorial service at Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, Calif., Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
Hess, who said Blasberg didn't mention anything about planning to commit suicide, told the dispatcher he discovered her body with a bag over her head inside the house.
The dispatcher then directed Hess to wait for officers outside the house, telling him to "try not to touch anything."
Hess is a family practice doctor with an office at 1641 East Flamingo Road in Las Vegas. According to the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, Hess hasn't had any disciplinary actions against him, nor does he have any restrictions or conditions on his medical license.
Henderson police this past summer reported confiscating several computers, two video cameras, a cell phone and a global positioning system from Hess' home, according to an inventory filed after the May 13 searches. Police also seized white plastic trash bags and a computer from Hess' medical office.
The search warrant issued by a Henderson judge shows police were looking for alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication also known as Xanax, plus a particular type of white medium-sized trash bags and samples of Hess' handwriting.
Blasberg, who was in her sixth season on the LPGA tour, was a former junior golf standout as an All-American in 2003 and 2004. While at the University of Arizona, she was named the 2003 NCAA Freshman of the Year and 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year.
She turned professional in June 2004. Her best year on the tour was 2008, when she earned more than $113,000.
After Blasberg's death in May, family and friends held a memorial service for her in her hometown at the Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, Calif.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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How did Dr. Hess end up at the scene anyway? Did he just happen to make a house call? Very, very strange.
Obviously Dr. Hess has a lot of questions to answer.
Also how common is it to attempt suicide by placing a plastic bag over your head?
given that breathing is an involuntary action one wonders how the young lady wouldn't of taken the bag off of her head. Hands tied? then how'd the bag get on her head? To under from the drugs? how'd the bag get on her head?
did the Sun / anyone see the actual coroners report?
my condolences to the family but there's something not quite right with the official story being put out.
If she died of asphysixiation firstly, who put the plastic bag over her head?
I remember reading at the time that the family said in no way was it possible she would ever commit suicide.
This sounds very strange, like the Michael Jackson death scene. Dr. Murray did the same thing when MJ died..."hide the meds!!!!"
Sad story, beautiful young girl with so much promise in life, maybe all the media attention was too much for her.
sorry, but to play the devils advocate, families always say there is no way possible their loved ones would commit suicide.
I still feel like something here doesnt add up. Why would Dr. Hess alter the secne if he had nothing to hide?
Something is wrong with this picture.
Originally the said she had all her bags packed and was ready to travel when they found her dead.
So a 25 year old girl in the prime of her life is going to pack her bags, put a plastic bag over her head, and hold it there until she can't breathe?
Yah right. Unless she's using the bag to help sniff something illegal or get some weird high, I don't buy that.
Some unknown variables are missing from this story.
did the doctor alter the scene to save his own hide? this clown made things worse and might invite a civil suit from the family. i deeply regret the loss of erica and condolences to the family.
It makes no sense that a girl like that would commit suicide. :(
It seems highly unlikely that a person could asphyxiate herself by placing or tying a plastic bag around her head. As mentioned above, breathing is a non-voluntary act performed by the body, so it would be difficult to consciously smother yourself.
Also, one wonders why a suicide note and medications would have been removed and hidden by a doctor. One also wonders how that doctor arrived on the scene before the police, etc.
There seems to be a lot more to this story...
Suicide note should confirm her handwriting.
It is possible that she took the pills and then tied the bag over her head. The pills would make her weak and unconscious very quickly.
Like flapsy said, she could've taken the pills, put the bag over her head, passed out and then asphyxiated. But why would the doctor take the suicide note and alter the scene? That just doesn't add up.
My condolences to Erica's family. I hope they get some answers as to what happened to this lovely young woman.
this hess guys stinks. i was surprised to hear the 911 operator just tell him to go outside and wait. i'm guessing all that HEAVY breathing is when he was hiding the suicide note but i didn't hear any car doors opening or closing. i don't see any doctors but i know people who do...they don't get any surprise visits from them. how did he get in? a single lady in vegas doesn't leave the doors unlocked. drinks, visits, doping her up, free access to the home...he stinks.
There is a story not being told, that of an unmarried young golfer involved romantically with a married, older professional.
Not hard to believe he was trying to break things off and she was unstable. No reader has connected the dots that what he did was not directly cause her death. He altered the scene and removed the note because likely it was to or about him. He wanted to keep this relationship from being public or known to his family.
I don't know either person but logic states this is the story not being told.
@wildcard: My thoughts exactly. This young woman's death in and of itself is a very sad story. But this man's actions at the scene speak to something more than what's been disclosed thus far: How did he gain entry to her house? (key?); why take the note? (it mentioned him? their relationship?) What, exactly, was he trying to hide or save? (his marriage?).
your coroners office in nevada is like ours in hawaii. it takes months to figure out the cause of death when one is found with a bag over her head, mmmmmm
Wildcard-100% right!
The only reason he ever removed the suicide note was he was mentioned somehow.
Again-how did he get into her house? Why would she be calling him the night before unless they had some sort of personal relationship? If he was really concerned and this was a professional relationship only-why not call an emergency contact number or the police to go check. All very odd.
Lets just hope this guy comes clean and gives this family closure. Very sad.
If Hess was there and removed the suicide note so that no one would find it, how did we hear about it?
Such a tragedy -- this beautiful young girl and her family. My guess is that she wholeheartedly believed a married man -- led to believe they would always be together -- he would leave his wife (of course in a loveless marriage and/or worse). And then the letdown. And a heartbroken distraught young woman's way out gone completely wrong. If so, shame, shame and double shame.
Seems apparent that Dr. Thomas Hess was cheating on his wife with Erica. Hess prescribed anxiety or depression meds that messed with Erica's brain chemistry causing her to become suicidal. Hess had a key to Erica's place and he found her body while he took items to cover up the crime scene. Hess may not have pulled the trigger but it sure seems likely that his actions led to her death. Erica's father says he is going to sue Hess in civil court. If I'm on the jury, Erica's family will get the maximum settlement. Hess finally admitted that he removed the suicide note and meds but then clammed up.
maybe she mentioned it the night before on the phone when she sounded "intoxicated". maybe she said she was going to kill herself and he thought she was just loaded, but then he checked on her and she was dead, and he felt guilty so he tried to hide the note... maybe he could have stopped her. I don't think he killed her at all.
Dr. Hess,...your life has changed and it changed on May 9, 2010. Just stopped by her home because you were concerned about her? Found her with a plastic bag over her head? Re-arranged the scene,...hiding her "suicide" note. Her bags were packed for her next match. Sounded intoxicated the night before and you showed up at 3:15 the following day concerned?
Are we to believe she was drunk and on various drugs but somehow managed to sober up long enough to place and seal a plastic bag over her head without naturally and instinctively trying to remove it?
So Dr. Hess,...why were you really at her residence and why did it take you so long to check on her condition?
Seems to me your up to your stethoscope in this,...buckle up Doc things are about to become quite interesting for you.
Erica was a beautiful talented young woman,...my condolences to her friends and family
People commit suicide with a plastic bag over their head more than you would think.. Along with some powerful meds it is very easy to do so...Then again was the doc a regular visitor to the girl and maybe thats why she offed herself..She did not know how to get rid of him...
Prayers to the family.......................
Listen to the 911 call. Here's a guy who knows his life just changed.
I can come up with a load of scenarios on this one but its anyones guess since she is not here to say her side... But I bet the doc has a version that will never be heard... The true version that is...
Trying to have a career on a asian (bimale) LPGA fledgling tour and a married doctor who likes to swing is a bit much for any 25 year old girl. Someone should have been more responsible on that tour for the well being of it's players. Players directors? Commisioner? A lot of pressure to make a living on that KLPGA USA tour when only the top 15 girls make enough money to live. The need for gender testing is soon. Totallly tuned out for the Safeway Classic. YAWWWNNN.
Why did the doctor hide the suicide note? Could it be that he assisted her in committing suicide?
That would explain his presence around the time of her death.
What did the suicide note say? Is it authentic?
Statistic;
I believe you are attempting to be an idiot with your post - you succeeded.
My condolences to the family, I do really hope you get more answers to what this was all about. The loss of a loved one can never heal or should it, in so far as one should (will) never forget our loved ones.
David Cardin, pasted away tragically in Thailand and as many as 200 people pass away every year do to these events gone wrong.
My thoughts are with the Blasberg family every time I read these headlines. The sooner closure comes the better it might be for cherishing happier moments and times with Erica.
Again Mr. Blasberg, never let go until your questions are are fully answered; do be well.
NOTE TO statistic: Write AFTER your drugs wear off. . .
They were reported to be "having an affair they didn't want to go public."
Shame on you Dr. Hess. Shame. Hopefully the family can make some sense of this tragedy.
Anything is pure speculation at this point, but it seems to me that this young, attractive athlete was the victim of mental blackmail by this physician/predator.
First of all, I don't buy that this young lady saw anything in the troll, other than maybe a source of convenient medical care at the golf course.
She had a history of medical issues, and my guess is one of them flaired up, right before she was supposed to play in her second golf tournament of the year. She asked for a quick fix (meds) - he wouldn't give it to her without a little "payment" and she cosented.
After he gave her what she needed (pain meds),and she gave him what he wanted, he threatened to "turn her in," which would be a career-breaker. He put her in a no-win situation, which exacerbated the stress she was already going through with trying to get her tour card back.
He tried to cover his tracks in the end, and unfortunately, a beautiful young lady's life is cut short by this moron's doing.
too many naive talkers. Blaming the doctor is crap and will come to nothing. Give it 6 months and see.
Daddy wants someone to sue
Cops want to look like they know something
Ohcalcutagirl,...the expert voice. Naive are we? The pot seems to be calling the kettle black
Geez! After this long a time Mr. Coroner, what was the time of Ms. Blasberg's death? That's the first thing we find out on CSI (in about 10-mins). Perhaps Mr. Hess has his whereabouts covered in comparison to her time of death. Hence, suicide becomes the ruling.
Personally, I think the guy is a classless schmuck the way he handled this. It's a cover your butt first move, huh Doc? At least you made a call to 911, which sinisterly had heavy breathing sounds and fountains fading in and out in the background. You must have been moving pretty fast dude!
[...]Hess had stopped cooperating with detectives during the investigation, police said Tuesday[...]
So the Doc clammed up huh
Dr.Hess, I pray for you. Dr.Hogan and you and your staff saved my life, not once but twice.
I shall always be grateful to you for that. And, I shall never forget that fact.
I'm sorry you are being tried in the press without due process of law. Our nation seems to have succumbed into the behavior of our archenemies.
I pray for Erica's soul and for her grieving family and love ones. She displayed remarkable talent that never fully materialized because she left this earth prematurely.
I can only hope that the outcome of all of this is the unlikely one that comforts all involved.
This suspect is one of the few chosen doctors who gives Pilots their medical certificate:
These are details from the Federal Aviation Administration site.
ME Number: 03573
First Name: THOMAS
Last Name: HESS
Name Suffix:
Medical License: MD
Medical Specialty: Family Practice/General Practice
First Class AME: N
Appointment Date: 7/1/2005
Pilots License: Private
Accident Investigator: Y
Phone Number: (702) 734-4377
Mailing Address: HESS MEDICAL CENTER, 1641 E. FLAMINGO ROAD, SUITE 10
City Name: LAS VEGAS
State Name: NEVADA
Zip Code: 89119-
County Name: CLARK
Region Name: WESTERN-PACIFIC
Fear..NV is on track on this one.
The Doc sure smells schmucky.
A beautiful young woman, gone.
Lucky for her the good doctor came by when he did to report his findings to 911.
This guy is a loser !! I am on to you and I hope everyone else is too.. Have a long dreadfull life ...................
If you listen to the 911 call, he first states that he came over the night before and she had a couple of drinks. Then he says he didnt come over, and that he called her and she sounded drunk? You can also hear him shaking the pill bottle in the back ground.
As a person, the first thing you would do when you walk into a room and see a plastic bag on someones head is to REMOVE it!!! He is/was a Dr!!! You give an oath to save a life... In the police report, it states that he left it on!!
I DO NOT believe there was ever a suicide note to begin with,he wants everyone to think that there was one!!!
I really hope that her family challenges that her death was a NOT suicide. {RIP Erica}