County sheriff releases Lamar Odom 911 tapes, tests blood for drug use
The Nye County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the circumstances surrounding the hospitalization of ex-NBA forward Lamar Odom. The 35-year-old Odom was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after being found unconscious at the Love Ranch, a legal brothel near Pahrump, Nevada. According to owner Dennis Hof, Odom had been on site since Saturday before employees found him unresponsive with liquid coming out of his nose and mouth. He was then transported by ambulance to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas after medical staff decided that the 6-10 Odom could not be airlifted due to his size.
Wednesday’s press conference included the release of 911 tapes, which included an employee stating that Odom had used cocaine shortly after his arrival at the brothel on Saturday. It is not currently known how or where Odom procured the drug. Earlier reports, including statements from Hof, claimed that Odom had only taken “herbal Viagra” supplements. The audio tapes included statements that Odom had taken approximately 10 doses of the pills during his stay.
According to sheriff Sharon Wehrly, authorities obtained a search warrant to test Odom’s blood for drugs, although they did not have any results at the time of the press conference. Investigators will also look into the possibility of a suicide attempt, in addition to other scenarios.
Wehrly could not provide an update on Odom’s condition, but the two-time NBA champion and 2011 Sixth Man of the Year is still at Sunrise Hospital. CNN reports that Odom’s estranged wife Khloe Kardashian, who filed for an as-yet not finalized divorce in December 2013, is making medical decisions for him. The same report states that Odom’s two children from previous relationships, as well as his father, are also present.
The multi-talented Odom last played in the NBA in 2012-13, when he played in all 82 games for the Los Angeles Clippers, the franchise that drafted him with the fourth-overall pick in 1999. Odom was arrested for driving under the influence that summer and entered a court-mandated treatment program that September. Odom’s troubles have continued, which typifies a tragic life story that includes the death of his mother from cancer when he was just 12 years old, the death of a his 6 1/2-month-old son from SIDS in June 2006, and a difficult relationship with his drug-addicted father.
Despite his struggles, Odom was a beloved teammate and locker-room presence over his NBA career. Many friends and acquaintances have pledged their support for him since news of his hospitalization broke, and Kobe Bryant and general manager Mitch Kupchak left the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game in Vegas on Tuesday to visit Odom in the hospital.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
