Michael Tsokos follows Whitney Houston’s death in a documentary. In an interview, the forensic pathologist explains why the case is special.
In the new documentary “Death Riddle with Liefers and Tsokos – The Whitney Houston Case” (from July 7 on RTL) actor Jan Josef Liefers (57) and forensic pathologist Prof. Dr. Michael Tsokos (55) after the death of Whitney Houston (1963-2012). The singer was found dead in the bathtub of her hotel suite on February 11, 2012.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Michael Tsokos, head of Berlin’s forensic medicine department, explains why he has never experienced a comparable case in around 30 years of his professional life and how he approached the research. He also reveals why he forms a good team with Jan Joses Liefers, with whom he has already worked on the true crime documentary “Autopsy – Real cases with Tsokos and Liefers”.
How did the idea of working on the Whitney Houston case come about?
Michael Tsokos: Everyone from my generation knows Whitney Houston, the songs accompanied you during your youth. Ten years ago, when the gifted singer died, I had more questions than answers from reading the news about her death.
What do you think is special about the case?
Tsokos: The special thing about this case is that in almost 30 years of forensic medicine and a few hundred bodies found in a bathtub, I have never had a comparable case in which the body was found lying prone in the bathtub.
In the documentary, you devote yourself to research that strongly doubts the previous autopsy result. Which results particularly caught your eye?
Tsokos: Neither the heart disease listed in the autopsy report could be confirmed under the microscope, nor was there a relevant drug intoxication that can adequately explain the drowning that ultimately caused death.
Are there major differences between American and German forensic medicine?
Tsokos: Definitely. Without wanting to offend our American colleagues: Forensic medicine has its cradle in Germany and the quality of German specialist training is unique in the world. No other country can look back on such luminaries in forensic medicine as Germany. A prominent example is Otto Prokop, one of my predecessors in the chair of forensic medicine at the Charité.
How did you approach the research, who did you talk to?
Tsokos: First, I read the autopsy documents and studied all the available investigation results. Meeting in Los Angeles with a private investigator who had been doubting the accident theory for ten years and who was able to provide me and Liefers with very interesting background information was particularly helpful.
How was it working again with Jan Josef Liefers, why are you a good team?
Tsokos: Jan and I have known each other for over ten years now. And we not only know each other, we are very close friends. This makes it easier to deal openly and critically with each other and the opinions of others. Of course, something like this is always good for a documentary format. We both, maybe because we’re the same age, have a similar view of the world and the things we perceive. In addition, he is a very critical and inquisitive mind, which matches well with a coroner.
Did the case continue to concern you after the documentary?
Tsokos: Yes, and this case still concerns me. Because I’m sure Whitney Houston didn’t die in a bathtub accident. Make up your own mind about our findings, which leave little room to negate a homicide.
