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Ledger's death still mystery; Olsen twin was called

BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA | rocco.parascandola@newsday.com

9:17 PM EST, January 23, 2008

Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment amid sleeping pills, the NYPD said. (AP Photo)

Police Wednesday released a detailed timeline of the moments surrounding "Brokeback Mountain" star's Heath Ledger's death, revealing that a masseuse who found Ledger unresponsive called actress Mary-Kate Olsen twice before calling 911.

With an autopsy inconclusive, the death will remain a mystery for at least 10 days while more testing is done, the medical examiner's office said.

Police also said a rolled-up $20 bill found near his body in his SoHo loft had no traces of narcotics, while the Daily Mail of London reported that Ledger had been battling a heroin addiction.

No illegal drugs were found in the apartment, police sources said, and police believe that the 28-year-old actor may have accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills. Six different types of prescription drugs were in the apartment -- including anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills and an antihistamine, The Associated Press reported.

Police said Wednesday that a masseuse, Diana Wolozin, who found Ledger unresponsive, called his friend Olsen twice in a panic before calling police, and Olsen sent over security personnel. Police stressed that there is nothing to suggest that Wolozin or the security guards compromised the scene or tampered with evidence. But detectives thought it was highly unusual that the therapist would not first call 911, police sources said.

Ledger's relatives in Australia say they believe Ledger died accidentally and had no reason to kill himself.

The actor has been described recently as worn out from the shooting of the new Batman film, "The Dark Knight," in which he plays The Joker. Media reports said that he had thrown himself into that role, and he said in a recent interview he was sleeping only about two hours a night.

The Daily Mail quoted a friend, director Shekhar Kapur, saying Ledger had called him Monday. "He made me promise that I would call him in the morning and wake him up," Kapur said. "I tried. Little did I know that his soul had already left his body.

"He was one of the most gentle, most honest, most caring and most compassionate persons I had met."

Friends of Ledger and ex-girlfriend Michelle Wiliams told New York detectives that Ledger had a drug problem, which contributed to their recent breakup, according to police sources.

Williams, who met Ledger on the set of the 2005 film "Brokeback," has a daughter, Matilda, 2, with him. The two returned from overseas to their Boerum Hill home last night, hopping out of a black Chevrolet sport utility vehicle in the driveway and entering through the garage, but Williams did not speak to reporters.

Matilda's godmother, Williams' fellow "Dawson's Creek" cast member Busy Philipps, had arrived at the home earlier.

Fans continued to leave bouquets, notes, candles and stuffed koalas outside the Brooklyn building, as well as at Ledger's Broome Street home.

Paul Basilio, 24, of Melbourne, Australia, a high school teacher on vacation, said Ledger was "a true blue Aussie -- a strong, charismatic person who is caring, witty and not a show.off."

Ledger's role in "Brokeback Mountain," in which he played a gay cowboy, set a lot people free, said David Ezell, 38, a therapist who holds support groups for gay men in SoHo.

"I work exclusively for gay men and I know what the movie and his role meant to my community," said Ezell, who left a bouquet on Broome Street. "Very few artists change people's lives and he did."

"I just liked his attitude," said Robert Louglin, 58, an artist who left a watercolor portrait of a cowboy with a Marlboro cigarette in the brim. "He seemed honest -- a real hippie."

In Brooklyn, community activist Daniel Goldstein remembered Ledger warmly, particularly because Ledger was on the advisory board of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, a group fighting the Atlantic Yards development.

"He and ... Michelle were very gracious," Goldstein said. "Most of the world's famous actors don't get involved in neighborhood organizations and that meant a lot to us."

Maria Alvarez and Adam Pincus contributed to this story.