Coroner: Casey Johnson's Death Caused by Diabetes

Published February 04, 2010

| AP

The Los Angeles County coroner says socialite Casey Johnson's death was related to diabetes.

The coroner announced Thursday that the death of the Johnson & Johnson heiress was caused by diabetic ketoacidosis -- a life-threatening condition caused by lack of insulin and sky-high blood sugar.

The coroner conducted Johnson's autopsy Jan. 5. Her body was found a day earlier in her Los Angeles home.

The 30-year-old daughter of New York Jets owner Robert "Woody" Johnson lived a party life. In December, she announced her engagement to bisexual reality TV star Tila Tequila.

Woody Johnson, who is also chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and co-authored the book, "Managing Your Child's Diabetes," learned of his daughter's death just one day after his team clinched a playoff spot for the first time in three seasons.

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Shortly after her death, Johnson family spokesman Jesse Derris released a statement saying, "The Johnson family wishes to thank everyone who has expressed condolences and support during this time. Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated."

Casey Johnson had no role in the health care products company that her great-great-grandfather founded in 1886, even though she and her two younger sisters were heirs to the fortune.

The family's involvement with the corporation ended decades ago.

"We have expressed our condolences to the Johnson family for their tragic loss," Johnson & Johnson spokesman Jeff Leebaw said.

Like her friend and former high school classmate Paris Hilton, Johnson's exploits were detailed in tabloid reports of partying and sexual escapades. Johnson became a staple of the New York Post's Page Six, the gossip column where she was mockingly dubbed the "baby-oil heiress."

Johnson told Vanity Fair in a 2006 interview that her decision to turn down Hilton's invitation to be her co-star on "The Simple Life" reality show was "the stupidest mistake of my life."

Johnson and Tila Tequila announced they were engaged in a Web video last month. Tequila referred to Johnson as "my Wifey" in a Twitter posting after Johnson's death.

Johnson was recently arrested for investigation of stealing $22,000 in lingerie, mail, jewelry and other items from the Hollywood home of model friend Jasmine Lennard.

She pleaded not guilty last year to burglary and receiving stolen property, and had a preliminary hearing scheduled on Feb. 2, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said.

Johnson also was reportedly in a custody fight over her adopted daughter with her mother, Sale Johnson.

Casey Johnson adopted the child as a baby from Kazakhstan in 2007 and named her Ava-Monroe after her idol, Marilyn Monroe.

"I see a lot of similarities between us," Casey said about Monroe in the Vanity Fair interview.

"Her life makes me sad. I don't think she was very happy.

"They thought she was some dumb blonde, and she wasn't. She was a smart, smart broad. And I think that sometimes people look at me and think, 'Oh, Casey Johnson, she's stupid, she's blonde, she's an heiress, blah, blah, blah."'

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