Mary-Kate Olsen Demands Immunity In Heath Ledger Probe: Report

NEW YORK — Federal investigators want to question actress Mary Kate Olsen about how Heath Ledger got two powerful painkillers that contributed to his accidental overdose death, but she's not talking, a law enforcement official said Monday.

Olsen's lawyer has twice refused requests to have her sit down with investigators probing the death of the scene-stealing star of "The Dark Knight" earlier this year in a Manhattan apartment, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation has not been concluded.

The official confirmed a report that Olsen _ a close friend of Ledger who learned about the 28-year-old actor's death in a frantic phone call from a masseuse _ wants a promise of immunity before she speaks to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The activity demonstrates that federal authorities are still actively trying to figure out how Ledger got some of the drugs that killed him.

DEA investigators suspect the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone found in his system were obtained with phony prescriptions or other illegal sources, the official said. Oxycodone is sold as OxyContin and hydrocodone as Vicodin.

The other drugs that resulted in what the medical examiner called "acute intoxication," including anti-anxiety and sleeping pills, were prescribed legally by doctors in California and Texas, the official said.

Authorities have obtained a subpoena that could force Olsen to appear before a grand jury if negotiations with her lawyer fail, the official said. Other potential witnesses all have answered questions voluntarily, including doctors, Ledger's ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams and anyone who was in his apartment around the time of his death, the official added.

The DEA's New York office declined comment on the stalemate, first reported Monday by the New York Post. There was no immediate response to a message left with a spokeswoman for Olsen.

The masseuse discovered Ledger's body on Jan. 22 after the actor had completed filming his role as the Joker in the new Batman film.

Police say the masseuse spent nine minutes making three calls to Olsen before dialing 911 for help, then called the "Full House" actress a fourth time after paramedics arrived. At some point during the flurry of calls, Olsen, who was in California, summoned her personal security guards to the apartment to help, police said.

Shortly after the Australian-born actor's death, Olsen issued a statement that read: "Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss."

Comments

[andvoodoo2]

I already blamed her for not calling 911 right after she got the call from the masseuse (there were SEVERAL phone calls between the 2, yet no one ever called 911), now I dislike her even more.
Take it from an attorney, people who have nothing to hide don't ask for immunity before talking to investigators.

[shoabear]

Isn't this the same "friend" that was seen out partying and dancing at a club the day after Ledger's death? Something is amiss here.

[FreeThinkn1]

Let them compel her to testify to a Federal Grand jury. Although her lawyer cannot be present during a Federal Grand Jury proceeding, she was an actor and can probably remember to answer EVERY single question put to her by the prosecutor by citing the 5th Amendment. If the Feds really want information from her, they will have to make some sort of immunity deal.

[andvoodoo2]

Not necessarily. They can charge her with crimes based on what they already know and she can then try to get them to let her plea bargain down in exchange for her testimony. Either way, she sounds like she has something to worry about. And, if she didn't break the law, she shouldn't be that worried.

[FreeThinkn1]

It's pretty much a given that she's hiding something...whether it's criminal activities is not clear. The local authorities closed their investigation, so it's unlikely they had enough evidence or there were crimes that warranted prosecution. They're probably using the Grand Jury as a scare tactic to get her to talk to them. Cops really don't like the silent treatment. Remember how they excoriated the Ramseys when they refused to talk to the cops without their lawyer present?

[RFuqua]

Really, who cares? Ledger is dead...bye. End of story. If she know something about drugs, why do we want to drag anybody's name out? What she has to say will not change the events. Whether she knows something or not is not relavent and all this speculation is BS. How many rich (really rich) people talk to investigators with out being forced to? None. What she know will only be known by her and her lawyer.

[Indubio]

No criminal investigation ever changes the event causing it but we conduct investigations for what I believe are sound reasons: In this case, to determine where Ledger obtained the drugs that caused his death since they weren't prescribed to him. If Olsen gave or sold the drugs to Ledger then she could be charged with manslaughter or a more severe crime. If she held a legal prescription and Ledger took them without asking then she's guiltless of nothing more than poor judgment for leaving narcotic medications where they could be accessed by anyone but her. Perhaps she knows absolutely nothing about the meds, which would absolve her of any culpability. Olsen's behavior the day after Ledger's death reminds me of Johnny Depp's behavior the night his "best friend" River Phoenix died of a drug Over Dose. Depp's behavior bordered on the sociopathic but over the ensuing 20 years he's matured a great deal and he seems changed to me. It remains to be seen how much Olsen will change since she's already extremely rich and insulated from financial failure. Depp was a struggling actor and he had to grow up to be successful.

[patriotic008]

hmmmmm trying to cover her a$$ even if it means delaying investigation of her friends death.

my guess is she probably got called first because she told the masseuse to get rid of the drugs.

[NotMcCain]

Mary Kate's masseuse found Ledger and called Mary Kate before the police or the paramedics.

If she's afraid of prosecution, it's probably because she asked the masseuse to get rid of drugs before calling authorities.

Or, also likely, her testimony would require her to incriminate herself for using and possibly buying illegal drugs with Ledger.

It seems pretty obvious that she has a drug problem and is afraid of being prosecuted for possession.

[lexnekst]

She obviously knows something. We all know she has drug problems- How cold. What a little spoiled girl.

[JonasH]

Possibly she is uncomfortable talking to The Man.

[rextrek]

Don't show up Ms Olson..hey IF Harriett Meyers,Josh Bolton, Karl Rove and others don't have to show up for Congress...wehy should you? ...or if anything...say you're NOT showing up until these people show up to thier hearings!

[AdamInMaryland]

One of two things happend:

Either Mr. Ledger did it on purpose, and confessed to her before hand...or, she knows absolutely nothing about it but doesn't think anyone would believe her if she said so.

Whatever the case, this has obviously been difficult for her to deal with (duh.)

[indyny]

What a naive little boy you are......

[DevilAdvocate]

mabye she supplied the drugs to Ledger, hello?!!!!

[EggZacktly]

The question the cops have is where did he get the drugs he OD'd on and the untalented Ms Olson is a suspect.

[lexnekst]

Or maybe she knows something possibly?

If her friend died she should be eager to help. You know who asks for immunity in cases? People who did something, but know something.

[Jasel]

That's kind of weird

[Puller58]

Her public appearances give the impression of someone out of their comfort zone. That makes this episode all the more disturbing.

[marymansour]

Something is not right in Denmark. Sounds strange. What is she hiding?

[mbh78213]

She probably got the drugs for him or knows who did.

[GQTaste]

whats she afraid of?