Who Killed River Phoenix?
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The fatal overdose of River Phoenix on Halloween night leaves hanging a host of
questions concerning his death. Why is it, for instance, that three days later
medical examiners announced that autopsy tests were inconclusive - but ruled out
foul play. If the cause of death was unknown, how could the coroner possibly
dismiss the possibility of murder? Toxicology tests revealed that the
morphine levels of the cocaine and heroin ingested by Phoenix were respectively
lethal. The day after he overdosed, the question reverberated on Hollywood
streets: "Who killed River Phoenix?"
The conclusion that Phoenix died of an accidental overdose seems premature.
No one knows how the narcotics were administered. No needle marks were found.
The identity of his supplier is known. He is not some shadow melting back
into narco-obscurity. Five witnesses, according to unconfirmed reports,
accompanied Phoenix to a West Hollywood apartment at 10:40 p.m., on October 30,
before departing for the Viper Room. One homosexual Los Angeles tabloid reported
that the drug dealer who gave Phoenix the fatal dose "has been seen back in
action at the club." If so, why wasn't he so much as questioned by police?
Media interest in the Family was eroded by false reports that Argentine
prosecutors had been hamstrung by a lack of medical evidence. In fact, the
death of River Phoenix coincided with investigations of the Family spreading
across Latin America. The last thing the cult needed was a popular junkie film
star shattering the news vacuum in the U.S. media by expanding, in some
Hollywood fanzine, on his sexual initiation in a cult with notorious
international political connections.
In fact, River Phoenix had a reputation for talking too much. In the
press, the Phoenix family has distanced itself from Berg's flock, emphasizing
their separation from the Children of God. "We were flower children," John
Phoenix (River's father, who refuses to tell reporters his true name) told
People magazine in September, 1987: "We were full of faith and loved everybody."
John Phoenix was so deeply rooted in the cult that he was named "Archbishop of
Venezuela" by the group. Rainbow Phoenix, River's sister, told Life in August,
1987 that she debuted as a performer at South American shopping plazas. "We used
to sing and hand out pamphlets," she said. "But after two years in Venezuela,
the family wanted out of the cult." Arlene Phoenix, River's mother, complained,
'the guy running it got crazy. He sought to attract rich disciples through sex.
No way.'"
The veneer of bohemian innocence was shattered in 1991 when, in Details
magazine, River recalled his childhood in the cult. He admitted in this
interview that he had intercourse at age four and sex with other children until
the age of 10.
River Phoenix violated the cult's stricture of secrecy by discussing his
early sexuality with reporters. Two years later, on All Hallow's Eve, at the
most critical period in the Family's history, he was poisoned with a drug
overdose. Had he lived, River Phoenix could have proven to be a dangerous
liability to the cult, confirming reports of sexual abuse and child prostitution
circulating throughout South America, but largely snubbed by the domestic press.
Moses Berg's Family sleeps with powerful political allies.
Did one of them have reason to silence River Phoenix?