Involuntary manslaughter became the defining legal verdict against Conrad Murray in 2011, stemming from his administration of the anesthetic propofol to Michael Jackson. As the singer's personal physician on the day of his death in 2009, Murray faced intense scrutiny regarding his medical practices, ultimately serving two years of a four-year prison sentence for his role in the fatal overdose.
Early Development and Training
Born on February 19, 1953, in Saint Andrew Parish, Murray spent his early youth in Grenada before relocating to Trinidad and Tobago at age seven. He worked as an elementary school teacher and customs clerk to fund his higher education. In 1973, he moved to Houston to attend Texas Southern University, graduating magna cum laude in pre-med and biological sciences. He completed his medical training at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, followed by a residency at the Mayo Clinic and the Loma Linda University Medical Center, and a cardiology fellowship at the University of Arizona.
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Murray worked as an associate director of a cardiology fellowship program at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. By 1990, he established a private practice in Las Vegas and later founded the Acres Homes Heart and Vascular Institute in Houston in 2006. Before his association with Michael Jackson, he faced significant financial difficulties, including a 2002 bankruptcy filing and substantial court judgments for unpaid business debts and student loans.
Association with Michael Jackson
Murray met Michael Jackson in Las Vegas in 2006 while treating the singer's daughter, Paris. In 2009, he was hired as Jackson's exclusive personal physician for the planned This Is It concert residency. The employment terms included a $150,000 monthly salary to be paid by AEG Live, though both parties later confirmed that no payment was ever issued. On June 25, 2009, Jackson died from acute propofol intoxication, an anesthetic Murray had been using as a sleep aid.
Post-Conviction Career and Memoir
Following his release from prison in 2013, Murray engaged in ongoing legal efforts to reinstate his medical licenses in Texas, California, and Nevada. He published a memoir in 2016 titled This Is It!, which claimed he had also provided medical services to Mother Teresa. Despite critical reviews, he continued to pursue medical interests, eventually opening a center in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, in May 2023. By 2022, the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners determined he could retain his license.
Fast facts
- Born: February 19, 1953, Saint Andrew Parish
- Education: Texas Southern University, Meharry Medical College
- Profession: Physician, cardiologist
- Conviction: Involuntary manslaughter, 2011
- Prison term: Two years served
- Memoir: This Is It! (2016)
- Medical facility founded: Acres Homes Heart and Vascular Institute
Questions readers ask
What caused Michael Jackson's death according to the investigation?
The coroner determined the cause of death was acute propofol intoxication, with a contributory effect from benzodiazepines.
Is Conrad Murray still licensed to practice medicine?
As of 2022, the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners allowed him to retain his medical license following a review.
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