This month marks 15 years since Michael Jackson's passing, yet his final words continue to echo in the memories of fans and loved ones.
The King of Pop, who reigned supreme on the charts for decades, was known for his groundbreaking career as much as for his tumultuous personal life.
On June 25, 2009, Jackson made headlines for a tragic reason – he passed away at 50. Initially, when paramedics arrived at the Los Angeles mansion he was renting, it seemed like a typical cardiac arrest.
However, the revelations that followed painted a far more complicated picture.
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The iconic singer had long been battling a dependency on numerous painkillers.
This struggle began in the 1980s after a fire on the set of a Pepsi commercial left him with severe scalp burns.
To cope with the pain, he turned to a significant amount of painkillers.
Despite a stint in rehab in 1993, Jackson's battle with addiction would persist throughout his life. The Los Angeles County coroner eventually determined that he died from 'acute propofol intoxication.'
Propofol, an anesthetic commonly used in surgical settings, became Jackson's remedy for insomnia.
With an impending comeback tour, he sought rest and turned to the drug.
Dr. Conrad Murray, who administered the drug, would later be sentenced to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. During his trial, Murray disclosed Jackson's haunting final words - repeated requests for 'milk.'
Though perplexing at first, 'milk' referred to propofol, often dubbed the 'milk of amnesia.'
Murray also had recordings of Jackson's last moments, where the father of three can be heard pleading (as reported by The New York Post: "Just make me sleep; it doesn’t matter what happens."
When Murray gave in to his employer's request, it marked the last time Jackson would take propofol.
Moments later, Murray realized the singer had stopped breathing and called for help.
Murray served nearly two years in a Los Angeles County jail before his release in October 2013.
His medical licenses in California, Nevada, and Texas were suspended following his conviction.
He recently opened his own medical facility, People reports. In May 2023, he launched the DCM Medical Institute in El Socorro, San Juan. This new venture marks his return to the medical field, despite the controversies and legal issues surrounding him following Jackson's death in 2009.
After serving two years of his four-year sentence, Murray faced significant professional challenges, including having his medical licenses suspended in California, Nevada, and Texas.
Upon returning to Trinidad and Tobago, he encountered resistance from local medical professionals, which ultimately motivated him to establish his own institute.
The DCM Medical Institute aims to provide specialized care, and Murray has expressed a commitment to continuing his medical practice despite the obstacles he has faced.
