From The Straits Times    |

UPDATE 17/07/2013
Glee star Cory Monteith had died from alcohol and heroin, according to a coroner in British Columbia.

A post-mortem examination determined that Monteith’s cause of death was due to “a mixed-drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol”.

“There is no evidence to suggest Mr Monteith’s death was anything other than a most tragic accident,” said the British Columbia Coroner’s Service in an official statement on July 16, 2013.

Cory Monteith memorialPhotographs and notes placed at a memorial for Cory Monteith outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver.
PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monteith’s co-star and girlfriend Lea Michele is said to be mourning with his family.

“Since Cory’s passing, Lea has been grieving alongside his family and making appropriate arrangements with them,” said Michele’s rep to People.

Shortly after the coroner’s report, Michele had issued a statement via her agent, expressing her gratitude for “all the love and support”.

LAST UPDATED ON 14/07/2013
Best known for his role as Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee, Canadian actor Cory Monteith, 31, has been found dead in a hotel room, on July 14, 2013, in Vancouver, Canada.

Glee star Cory Monteith found dead in Vancouver DECORCanadian actor Cory Monteith, 31, has been found dead in Vancouver, Canada. Image: Corbis

According to a report in the Huffington Post, “Vancouver Police say they believe he was alone at the time of his death, and do not suspect foul play”.

At a police press conference, Vancouver acting police chief Doug LePard said: “There were others with Mr. Monteith in his room earlier last night, but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours and we believe he was alone when he died.

“When he missed his check-out time, staff went to the room at noon and found his body.

“We know there will be considerable interest in this case, and we have detectives assigned to the case who attended with our Forensic Identification Unit to examine the scene, to ensure to the extent possible that there are no unanswered questions.

“Hotel video has been secured as well as room access records. Our investigators have spoken with hotel staff, who are providing the utmost in cooperation.

“An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. The Coroner will be determining the next steps with respect to establishing cause of death, but all indications are that there was no foul play.”

According to a CNN report, Monteith’s publicist Melissa Kates wrote via email: “We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss.”

Monteith was known to have publicly struggled with drug addiction, attending a rehab centre in early 2013. He told Parade magazine in 2011 that he started using drugs at the age of 13, and attended rehab for the first time at the age of 19, after his friends and family intervened.

The actor was a cast member of popular musical television show Glee from its launch in 2009. In 2011, he won a Teen Choice award for top actor in a comedy and the cast won a Screen Actors Guild award for an ensemble in a comedy in 2010.