Erica Blasberg Death: Questions Linger about Dr. Who Found Body
(CBS/AP) A day after a coroner ruled that pro golfer Erica Blasberg's death was a suicide, questions linger about the doctor who discovered her body in May.
Henderson, Nevada police said that while no foul play is suspected they have issued a misdemeanor arrest warrant for Dr. Thomas Hess on obstruction charges. Police said Hess, who discovered Blasberg's body, removed items from the scene, including a suicide note.
The contents of the note haven't been disclosed.
Blasberg died May 9 at her home in Henderson, about 15 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. She was found with a plastic bag secured over her head.
Hess turned himself into authorities, was booked into jail and released about 35 minutes after posting $637 in bail Tuesday afternoon, Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said.
David Mincavage, an assistant city attorney in Henderson, said the nonviolent misdemeanor charges against Hess carry a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
Last month, Mel Blasberg told CBS' "The Early Show" that his daughter's relationship with Hess was "outside of a professional doctor-patient relationship," but to what extent, he said, no one could be sure.
Hess never sent condolences after the golfer's death, Mel Blasberg added last month.
"Because he still knew my daughter, he should say, 'I'm sorry.' He didn't, hasn't, nothing," Blasberg said at the time. "I want the world to know that maybe this guy is a great doctor but there's a side of him that is a scoundrel."
A 911 call from Hess that summoned police came from the house, and Blasberg was alone when officers arrived, police have said. Blasberg's agent said her bags were packed for a tournament in Mobile, Ala., when she was found.
The death investigation was complicated, police said, because Hess admitted altering the scene including the removal of the note indicating Blasberg took her own life and he stopped cooperating with detectives. Hess hid the note and prescription medications in his vehicle.
In a 911 call obtained from police by The Associated Press, Hess says he came to the house to check on her after she didn't leave for the tournament.
"I called her yesterday, she was supposed to be leaving for a golf tournament but she didn't," an agitated Hess said on the call. "She picked up the phone and she sounded intoxicated at that time."
Hess said Blasberg had consumed a "couple drinks" and was sad the night before her death, but didn't indicate she wanted to kill herself.
When asked by the female operator whether Blasberg was beyond resuscitation, Hess replied: "I'm a doctor."
But Hess didn't say he was Blasberg's doctor, instead saying he "knew her from the golf club."
When the operator told Hess she was sending police, she asked him to wait outside the house.
"Try not to touch anything," she said.
"Yes ma'am," he replied.