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Julia Roberts's half-sister found dead in Los Angeles Julia Roberts's half-sister found dead in Los Angeles
(35 minutes later)
The Los Angeles County coroner's office is investigating the death of Julia Roberts's 37-year-old half-sister. The half-sister of Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts died from a possible drug overdose, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Nancy Motes was found dead in a house in Los Angeles on Sunday while dog-sitting for a friend, according to police lietenant Larry Dietz. He said an autopsy had not been carried out and there were no preliminary findings about how Motes died. Nancy Motes, 37, was found dead in a bathtub full of water at a Los Angeles residence on Sunday, Captain John Kades, spokesman for the coroner's office, said on Monday.
People magazine reported that the family released a statement that said Motes died of an "apparent drug overdose" but noted that no official cause of death had been determined. The statement described the Roberts family as "shocked and devastated". Prescription drugs were found at the residence, which was not Motes's home. Kades said nothing has been ruled out, including an accidental drug overdose or a suicidal overdose. He added that indications of a suicide note had been found at the residence.
Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in August: Osage County. An autopsy for Motes was scheduled for Monday, but an actual cause of death may take as long as eight to 10 weeks to be determined, pending a toxicology report.
Motes is the younger sister of actors Julia and Eric Roberts. A telephone message left for Roberts's publicist was not immediately returned. Motes is the half-sister of Roberts and her brother, Eric Roberts, also an actor. Julia Roberts, 46, who has been nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in August: Osage County, did not appear at the Oscar nominees luncheon hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on Monday.
Representatives for both Julia and Eric Roberts did not respond for comment.
In a statement to People magazine, the Roberts family said they were "shocked and devastated" by Motes's death.
"It is with deep sadness that the family of Nancy Motes … confirms that she was found dead in Los Angeles yesterday of an apparent drug overdose," the family said.