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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Worn-Out Heart Gave Up On Musician Garcia

Compiled From Wire Services

Jerry Garcia had used heroin shortly before his death, but in the end, his heart simply gave out from wear and tear.

When he died, the arteries that supplied blood to Garcia’s heart muscle were so clogged that the openings were the size of pinpoints, Gary Erickson of the Marin County coroner’s office said.

Two of the three arteries supplying blood to the heart were 85 percent clogged, and the third was 30 percent, he said.

Toxicology tests showed Garcia had used heroin within days of his Aug. 9 death at a rehab center, but, “It wasn’t contributing toward his death,” Erickson said Tuesday.