Introduction
Disturbing Details Emerge From Elvis Presley’s Postmortem Report
The sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977 stunned the world, leaving fans and the media grappling for answers. At just 42 years old, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was found lifeless at his iconic Memphis home, Graceland, and speculation surrounding his death has persisted for decades. While the widely accepted account reports that Elvis died of a heart attack, his postmortem report raises questions that continue to intrigue historians and fans alike.
The official two-page medical examiner’s report, completed more than two months after Elvis’s passing on August 16, 1977, was authored by Dr. Jerry Francisco of Shelby County. The report offers a glimpse into the circumstances of Presley’s death and includes basic identifying details such as his full name, Elvis Aron Presley, age, sex, and address at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. It also notes the involvement of both the Shelby County Medical Examiner and the Memphis Police Department in investigating his death.
Several unusual omissions in the report have fueled speculation. Key fields, including Elvis’s weight, height, body temperature, and the precise time of death, were left blank. Late in life, Presley had reportedly gained a significant amount of weight, with estimates placing him around 350 pounds. This detail could have provided insight into a lesser-known factor in his death: severe constipation. Rumors suggest that Elvis suffered from a “megacolon,” requiring daily enemas and laxatives.
Dr. Francisco classified the manner of death as “natural” and cited hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with arteriosclerotic heart disease (H.C.V.D. associated with ASHD) as the probable cause. The report also notes that by the time his body was examined, rigor mortis had set in, a condition that can indicate whether a body was moved postmortem. Additional observations include facial and upper torso congestion, a pressure mark near his left eye, and a sutured thoracotomy on his left abdomen.
Elvis was reportedly last seen alive at 8 a.m. on August 16 and found by his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, in the bathroom of his master bedroom at 2 p.m. Police were notified at 3:30 p.m., and he was pronounced dead on arrival at Baptist Memorial Hospital. An autopsy was performed at the hospital, but, at the request of his father, Vernon Presley, the full autopsy report remained sealed for decades and is scheduled to be released in 2027.
The postmortem report sheds light on Presley’s final hours and physical condition, yet the sealed autopsy preserves an air of mystery around the King’s death. Even after more than four decades, Elvis Presley remains a figure shrouded in legend, and the limited details from his postmortem report continue to spark questions, speculation, and fascination among fans worldwide.