Published January 13, 2015
Suicide has been ruled out in the death of an actress found shot at the home of music producer Phil Spector, authorities said Tuesday.
Sheriff's Capt. Frank Merriman said authorities believe the shooting was a crime, and he disputed news reports that said Spector would soon be cleared.
"No one involved in this investigation said that," Merriman said. "My opinion is that somebody is orchestrating this to plant seeds of doubt with potential jurors."
Longtime friend Marvin Mitchelson said Spector sent an e-mail to him and others Monday suggesting that investigators would soon clear him and that Lana Clarkson's death was "an accidental suicide." Mitchelson said he has not talked with Spector about the e-mail.
Spector, 62, who produced records for acts like the Beatles, Elvis Presley and the Ramones, was arrested Feb. 3 for investigation of murder after Clarkson, a 40-year-old model and B-movie actress, was found shot to death in the foyer of his hilltop home in suburban Alhambra.
No charges have been filed, and Spector was released on $1 million bail. His attorney, Robert Shapiro, did not immediately return a call Tuesday.
The investigation could continue until summer because the evidence is complex and forensic tests take months to complete, Merriman said.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/cops-death-of-actress-at-spector-home-not-suicide