Sunday, January 27, 2008

Mary-Kate Talks Heath, Won't Talk to NYPD

Mary-Kate Olsen won't be talking to the cops about Heath Ledger, but she did finally come forward to share her thoughts on the late actor.

"Heath was a friend," Olsen said in a statement Friday. "His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time."

Olsen has become inextricably tied to the case, after the New York Police Department reported she likely found out about Ledger's death before any emergency personnel.

Despite the flurry of phone calls to Olsen, an NYPD spokesperson shot down tabloid reports that officers were looking to interview the twin about her connection to the death of Ledger, telling E! News that investigators have not and do not plan to question her.

The New York Post, among others, claimed earlier Friday the police were interested in talking to Olsen after learning the masseuse who discovered Ledger's body made a total of four phone calls to the Weeds star after being unable to rouse the Brokeback Mountain actor. The masseuse placed three of the calls to Olsen before ever dialing 911.

According to officials, 40-year-old massage therapist Diana Wolozin found Ledger unconscious in the SoHo apartment, where he had spent the past five months. Woolzin found his cell phone and began scrolling through his speed dial contacts.

She recognized Olsen's name and, knowing the two were friends, dialed the 21-year-old entertainment mogul. (Subsequent reports have indicated the pair, who initially met in 2006, had casually been dating in the months leading up to the 28-year-old's death.)

Wolozin managed to reach Olsen, who was in Los Angeles after returning from a brief stint at the Sundance Film Festival.

In the first phone call, which lasted just 39 seconds, Olsen said she would send her private security guards to the apartment. It's unclear what was discussed in the second and third phone calls, lasting 49 seconds and one minute, 39 seconds. Wolozin finally placed the call to 911 nine minutes after first contacting the Full House star.

The final call to Olsen was placed at 3:34 p.m., per NYPD records, as the paramedics and security dispatch arrived simultaneously at the apartment. At 3:36 p.m., Ledger was pronounced dead. (Emergency workers refused to allow Olsen's three-man detail into the apartment.)

Officials have stated Ledger was already dead by the time Wolozin found the body.

NYPD confirmed to E! News Thursday that the security trio had already been questioned and described them as "very cooperative."

Officials are awaiting the results of toxicology and tissue tests in order to determine both a cause and manner of death for the actor. The results are expected back in 10 to 14 days.

Wolozin, meanwhile, could be facing some serious repercussions. The New York State Department of Education confirms that she is not a licensed masseuse, which under state law is a health profession. A department spokesperson says the NYPD has been notified. Wolozin could potentially be hit with a felony; however, neither the police or district attorney has yet moved to file charges.

No comments: