Charges in Michael Jackson's Death Months Away, Source Says

Although the death of Michael Jackson has officially been ruled a homicide, investigators are still months away from filing any criminal charges in the case, a source tells the Los Angeles Times. Because of all the evidence gathered in the case as well as the toxicology reports and other "complex medical data," the decision to file charges in the case are "months rather than weeks away." Outside medical experts have reportedly been recruited to help with the investigation.

Look back at Jackson's career, in photos.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, the individual at the center of the investigation into Jackson's death is the singer's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, who allegedly administered the dose of Propofol (a strong sedative strictly for hospital use) and other sedatives that ultimately led to Jackson's cardiac arrest. The county coroner ruled that Jackson died of "acute Propofol intoxication" and classified the death as a homicide. Even before the coroner's ruling, search warrants of Murray's home and offices revealed that the doctor was suspected in a manslaughter investigation.

Allegedly, the L.A. district attorney has already had Murray's girlfriend Nicole Alvarez testify before a grand jury panel. Murray reportedly called Alvarez after he administered Propofol to Jackson, leaving the star unattended. Murray then waited a long duration before calling paramedics after Jackson had stopped breathing. Murray has denied any wrongdoing in Jackson's death.

Michael Jackson fans react to the star's death: photos.

This isn't the first time the Los Angeles district attorney's office has hesitated before filing criminal charges in a high-profile case. According to the L.A. Times, music producer Phil Spector wasn't charged with murder until a year after actress Lana Clarkson was killed by a gunshot wound in his mansion. Spector was found guilty earlier this year.

Related Stories:
• Janet Jackson Blames Dr. Murray for Michael's Death in Interview
• Michael Jackson's Death Officially Ruled Homicide
• Conrad Murray's Lawyer Disputes "Police Theory" in Jackson's Death

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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