Coroner: Medication in Bevilacqua's System

Fox Philly
February 28, 2012

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/coroner%3A-drugs-in-bevilacqua%27s-system-022812

PHILADELPHIA - The Montgomery County coroner's office tells Fox 29 that preliminary findings show prescribed pharmaceuticals in the system of the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.

The coroner didn't detail the type of drugs, but Bevilacqua, who was 88, was reportedly being treated for dementia and cancer at the time of his death.

Coroner Walter I. Hofman told Fox 29 on Tuesday that his office is now testing to see if the amount of drugs in Bevilacqua's system at the time of his death matches the prescribed dosage. He says the process will take several weeks.

The coroner said his office is doing drug analysis and pharmacokinetics testing and he hopes to close the case out by March 10.

Bevilacqua died on January 31st at a home in Montgomery County, outside of Philadelphia. He was a key figure in the Philadelphia Archdiocese priest-abuse scandal that is now heading to trial.

Fox 29 first reported in early February that Hofman brought the Cardinal's body to his offices for examination and toxicology tests.

Bevilacqua's death came one day after a judge ruled the Cardinal would have to testify in the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Philadelphia archdiocese.

Sources say the cardinal's body had already been embalmed, but Dr. Hoffman wanted to examine the body and perform toxicology tests.

Sources said earlier this month that neither the Philadelphia district attorney nor the Montgomery County district attorney asked Dr. Hoffman to perform an autopsy or do toxicology tests.