The untimely passing of Josie Harris remains a death investigation.
In a development first reported by TMZ Sports, the sudden and shocking death of Harris—the mother of three children with ex-boyfriend and boxing all-time great Floyd Mayweather Jr.—has not produced evidence of being the result of a suicide or drug-influenced.
The 40-year old actress was found unresponsive last Tuesday evening in her car in front of her Valencia, California home. Efforts to revive her proved unsuccessful as medical personnel pronounced her dead on the scene. Citing the lack of evidence pointing to foul play, police initially ruled out homicide as the case has been treated as a death investigation.
Public speculation pointed to the possibility of a suicide or drug overdose, but—while neither has officially been ruled—officials have yet to discover evidence supporting either scenario, according to TMZ Sports citing law enforcement sources.
An inquiry placed to local authorities by BoxingScene.com seeking comment has yet to be returned as this goes to publish.
The suggestion of drug use in such an instance is a normal explorative subject. It piqued interest in this particular death probe considering an old criminal case involving Mayweather Jr., who suggested his ex was under the influence at the time he was arrested for a domestic violence incident which allegedly took place in their Las Vegas home in September 2010, producing a troubling end to their on-and-off 15-year relationship from which they had three children together—Koraun, Zion Shamaree and Jirah Mayweather.
Mayweather ultimately pleaded nolo contender, serving 60 days at Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas in June 2012, having since continued to deny his role in the alleged assault. A $20 million defamation lawsuit filed by Harris in 2015 remains active.
Meanwhile, local investigators will have to wait out the official autopsy report from the medical examiner in order to determine how to proceed with the case.
News of Harris’ passing broke as Mayweather was in the United Kingdom making several scheduled public appearances. The former pound-for-pound king cut short his tour once learning of her death, immediately returning home to be with his family.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
