Elvis ex-wife Priscilla and his half-brother Rick Stanley have either said or implied that Elvis Presley killed himself with a deliberate drug overdose.  Their theory goes that Elvis saved up his medications (known as “attacks”) and then took them all at once.  Is there a hole in this theory?  Possibly.

Elvis and Ginger Alden (1977)

Elvis’s girlfriend Ginger Alden was sleeping in the next room.  Wouldn’t she save him if awakened?  (Except, she didn’t.)

Additionally, I don’t believe Elvis would want to die by a toilet or commit suicide with his daughter Lisa Marie in the house.

The Turning Point – 1976

Col. Tom Parker and Elvis argued over the amount of money he way paying his new backup group named *****.  Parker said they weren’t worth $100,000, only $50,000.  “El” said he would pay them whatever he wanted.  In truth, ***** was being paid extra for supplying the “King of Rock ‘n Roll” cocaine.  Elvis’s bodyguard Red West attacked a member of the group, saying he would break one of his bones for each drug transaction he made in the future.  Soon after, Red was reprimanded by his boss Elvis in front of Sonny West.  After a long discussion, Elvis finally told Red, “I need it, man.  I need it.”

Written by his bodyguards shortly after they were fired.

August 1, 1977.  The scandal book “Elvis – What Happened?” had been released, detailing the years of drug abuse.  The “King” had plans to deny all by writing his own book and by marrying Ginger.  Unfortunately, his appearance in “Elvis in Concert” only proved what the book was saying:  that his life had become a train wreck.

Elvis 1977

In my opinion, the drugs taken on Aug. 15-16 1977, had a culminative effect.  The steady buildup of nearly a dozen drugs (Codeine, Quaaludes) built up in Elvis’s system, causing a fatal reaction.  Did he plan it that way?  I don’t see proof.  Like most addicts, “El” was in denial and thought he had it under control.  It was only a matter of time before it killed him.

Text © 2024 – ERN