Erica Blasberg Death Ruled a Suicide

The death of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg has been ruled a suicide, Henderson Police announced on Tuesday.

Despite the determination, police arrested Dr. Thomas Hess for obstruction of justice. He allegedly removed items from the crime scene before police arrived to find Blasberg's body at her home in suburban Las Vegas on May 9.

"While asphyxia was the primary cause of death, the presence of prescription drugs in Ms. Blasberg's system was a significant factor," County Coroner Michael Murphy said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with her family as they move through this tragedy."

Hess admitted to police that he had removed Blasberg's suicide note and then stopped cooperating with police, complicating the investigation.

Listen to Dr. Thomas Hess' 911 Call After Blasberg's Death

"I came by to check on her now and she's dead," said a caller on the 911 tape who identified himself as Thomas Hess. "She put a bag on her head."

Hess told the 911 operator that Blasberg, 25, showed no signs of depression in the days before her death, but Blasberg "sounded intoxicated" when he talked to her the day before he found her body.

Hess surrendered himself after the warrant on the single misdemeanor count of obstruction that was issued, according to Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul. Hess was booked into the Henderson Detention Center at 1:45 pm PT and released less than an hour later after he posted $637 bail.

Messages left with Hess' lawyer, Charles Kelly, were not immediately returned.

The coroner's office said Blasberg died of asphyxia, and toxicology results showed she had "toxic levels of prescription medication in her system." The medications included butalbital, temazepam, alprazolam, codeine, hydrocodone and tramadol, according to the coroner's office.

Police said Nevada law does not permit the coroner to release the exact amounts of each drug that were present in the body.

"It's been a rough day," Erica's father, Mel Blasberg, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Messages left for Blasberg's agent, Chase Callahan, were not returned Tuesday.

LPGA spokesman David Higdon said the tour's medical services team is on standby to help any of Blasberg's many friends on the tour cope with Tuesday's development.

"We are saddened to hear the news that Erica Blasberg's death was the result of suicide, as she had so much to live for," LPGA said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to Erica's family and loved ones. The LPGA is a family, and as a family, we mourn together. This is uncharted territory for us as no one here recalls a case of suicide in the 60-year history
of the LPGA."

Blasberg was a native of Corona, Calif., and was a standout at the University of Arizona, where she was a two-time All-American. But she didn't fully realize her potential on the pro level, where her career-best finish was eighth and she made only six of 18 cuts the prior two seasons.

Blasberg finished 44th at the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico that concluded May 2. She was slated to play in the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala. (May 13-16) and her packed bags were found near her body.