Anne Heche’s Cause Of Death Has Been Revealed
Anne Heche’s tragic death has officially been ruled an accident. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, the actress lost her life due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. The report via People also cited a “sternal fracture” due to blunt trauma as another significant factor that contributed to her passing. The 53-year-old sustained the injuries after crashing her car into a house on August 5th. The residence and car ignited as a result. While the owner and her pet were able to evacuate, The Gracie’s Choice star had to be removed from the vehicle by rescue workers.
She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and fell into a coma shortly after. Anne Heche was on a ventilator for almost a week before her family revealed that she was not expected to survive. The mother of two was declared legally dead in the state of California on August 12th. However, her heart continued to beat until Sunday to ensure her organs could be donated in accordance with her final wishes. She was said to have received a hero’s goodbye reserved for donor patients before her final journey to the operating room.
Following her death, Anne Heche’s family and friends said they have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. “Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement via Deadline continued. Lynne Mishele, the woman whose house the actress crashed into, also shared her sadness on social media.
Speculation about Anne Heche’s condition before the crash came under scrutiny after she was filmed driving erratically shortly before the accident. The actress was also involved in another minor accident a few blocks before fatally slamming into the house. After blood tests showed the presence of narcotics in her system, law enforcement had been trying to determine if the drugs were administered at the hospital, or before. The findings eventually also showed the Daytime Emmy Award winner was not under the influence of alcohol. Officials closed the investigation a few days later, Deadline reports.
According to those close to the actress, the horrific car crash came at the end of a downward spiral that started when Anne Heche split from actor Thomas Jane. The pair had dated from 2019 through 2020. “She was crazy in love with him,” one friend told sources via News24. “After so many failed relationships she thought she finally found her person – the guy who would be in her life forever.” The troubled star always had demons and in the end, when the couple couldn’t make it work, she fell apart and turned to some bad things that took her out of her funk before.
Meanwhile, Anne Heche recently wrapped filming on a Lifetime movie called Girl in Room 13. The story explores the dark underworld of the $150-billion-dollar human trafficking industry. During a panel for the project at the Television Critics Association virtual press tour, Executive Vice President and head of programming for the network, Amy Winter said the film was still scheduled to premiere in September as planned since the project is important to Heche. Directed by Elisabeth Rohm, the film also stars Larissa Dias, Max Montesi, and Matt Hamilton.
