For those that didn't hear..........
Autopsy shows painkiller, alcohol cause of Tata's death
33-year-old casino executive had been featured on television series
By FRANK CURRERI
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Michael Tata, a Station Casinos executive found dead last month at his Henderson home, died from an overdose of alcohol and the potent painkiller fentanyl, according to autopsy and toxicology results from the Clark County coroner's office.
The agency classified the 33-year-old's death as accidental. Coroner Mike Murphy said medical confidentiality laws prohibit him from discussing the drug levels detected in Tata's system.
Murphy said he also could not comment on whether a doctor had written Tata a prescription for fentanyl, an opium-based drug that is more potent than morphine and heroin and commonly used by chronic pain sufferers and cancer patients.
"I'm still in shock," said Heidi Goldman, a friend of Tata's since 1993 when she pledged a sorority and he a fraternity at UNLV. "You never think this is going to happen to someone at 33. He was doing exactly what he wanted to do. He always said that he wanted to do great things and he did ... It was at the prime of his career that this happened. So sad."
Tata had been promoted to Green Valley Ranch's vice president of hotel operations at the beginning of the year, and had shined as a driven workaholic on the Discovery Channel's "American Casino" television series. An episode dealing with Tata's death is slated to run Oct. 1 on the cable network.
"Michael Tata was a young man of tremendous promise and great potential and we continue to be saddened by his unexpected death," Station Casinos officials said in a short written statement, adding that, out of respect for Tata and his family, they did not intend to comment about Tata's life or the circumstances surrounding his death.
Doctors advise patients not to drink alcohol when using fentanyl, noting such a combination may lead to breathing problems or a dangerously low heart rate.
Just before his death, Tata had been preparing for a vacation to Hawaii.
Goldman said the Tata she knew wasn't as high strung as the character depicted on "American Casino."
"I think that was more for show purposes," Goldman said of Tata's on-screen, intense persona. "I think that was more for ratings. He was a hard worker, but I mean, the guy was so laid back whenever I talked with him. That's not him at all. He was fun and he was sarcastic, but he was also a nice guy."
Autopsy shows painkiller, alcohol cause of Tata's death
33-year-old casino executive had been featured on television series
By FRANK CURRERI
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Michael Tata, a Station Casinos executive found dead last month at his Henderson home, died from an overdose of alcohol and the potent painkiller fentanyl, according to autopsy and toxicology results from the Clark County coroner's office.
The agency classified the 33-year-old's death as accidental. Coroner Mike Murphy said medical confidentiality laws prohibit him from discussing the drug levels detected in Tata's system.
Murphy said he also could not comment on whether a doctor had written Tata a prescription for fentanyl, an opium-based drug that is more potent than morphine and heroin and commonly used by chronic pain sufferers and cancer patients.
"I'm still in shock," said Heidi Goldman, a friend of Tata's since 1993 when she pledged a sorority and he a fraternity at UNLV. "You never think this is going to happen to someone at 33. He was doing exactly what he wanted to do. He always said that he wanted to do great things and he did ... It was at the prime of his career that this happened. So sad."
Tata had been promoted to Green Valley Ranch's vice president of hotel operations at the beginning of the year, and had shined as a driven workaholic on the Discovery Channel's "American Casino" television series. An episode dealing with Tata's death is slated to run Oct. 1 on the cable network.
"Michael Tata was a young man of tremendous promise and great potential and we continue to be saddened by his unexpected death," Station Casinos officials said in a short written statement, adding that, out of respect for Tata and his family, they did not intend to comment about Tata's life or the circumstances surrounding his death.
Doctors advise patients not to drink alcohol when using fentanyl, noting such a combination may lead to breathing problems or a dangerously low heart rate.
Just before his death, Tata had been preparing for a vacation to Hawaii.
Goldman said the Tata she knew wasn't as high strung as the character depicted on "American Casino."
"I think that was more for show purposes," Goldman said of Tata's on-screen, intense persona. "I think that was more for ratings. He was a hard worker, but I mean, the guy was so laid back whenever I talked with him. That's not him at all. He was fun and he was sarcastic, but he was also a nice guy."
