It has been confirmed that Robin Williams committed suicide by hanging, and was found in his home on Monday, August 11, 2014, by his personal assistant.
The actor may have attempted to slit his wrists before hanging himself with a belt, as a statement by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office says that “the inside of Mr. Williams’ left wrist had several acute superficial transverse cuts” and that “a pocket knife with a closed blade was located in close proximity to Mr. Williams.”
When Williams’ personal assistant didn’t get a response to knocks on the actor’s bedroom door, the statement says she “was able to gain access to Mr. Williams’ bedroom and entered the bedroom to find Mr. Williams clothed in a seated position, unresponsive, and with a belt secured around his neck with the other end of the belt wedged between the closed closet door and door frame. His right shoulder area was touching the door with his body was perpendicular to the door and slightly suspended.”
It was too late to attempt to save the comedian’s life as “Mr. Williams was cool to the touch with rigor mortis present in all of his extremities” at the time he was found.
It will take between 2-6 weeks for results to come in from toxicology testing, which will determine whether or not Williams had any chemical substances in his system at the time of death.
The statement by Keith Boyd, Lieutenant with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner, may be read in its entirety HERE.