Rodney King Dead: Accidental Drowning at Age 47

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Rodney King was found dead at the age of 47 in his swimming pool in Rialto, with authorities investigating the incident as an accidental drowning and finding no evidence of foul play. His fiancée, Cynthia Kelley, discovered him after hearing a splash while they were communicating through a sliding glass door. Despite her attempts to call for help, King was unresponsive when pulled from the water. The discussion reflects on King's complex legacy, noting his struggles with public perception and personal challenges, including past arrests and substance abuse issues. While some express sympathy for his death, others highlight his troubled history, leading to mixed feelings about his impact and legacy.
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Early Sunday morning, at age 47, King was found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool in Rialto. Authorities say there was no evidence of foul play and are investigating his death as an accidental drowning.

King's fiancee, Cynthia Kelley, discovered him around 5 in the morning, authorities said. She told investigators that she had been talking to him intermittently through a sliding glass door. At some point she heard a splash, and ran out to find King submerged at the deep end.

Kelley said she could not swim well, so she called 911. When police pulled King out of the water, King showed no signs of life.

From the beginning, King had faltered in his role as a symbol and was tormented by his failings. His stuttering plea for everyone to "get along" during the riots was praised for its earnest intent, yet ridiculed as feckless and naive in relation to such searing, deep-seated anger.

"I never went to school to be 'Rodney King,'" he told The Times two months ago on the 20th anniversary of the riots.

He didn't even use that name much; his family called him by his middle name, Glen.

But whatever the transgressions of his life, he caused, however inadvertently, profound change.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0618-rodney-king-20120618,0,4523043.story
 
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Okay. Can't really think of much to say other than that.
 
Drakkith said:
Okay.


Can't really think of much to say other than that.
I know.

Except, I curious how he happened to drown in a swimming pool. I wonder if they'll find drugs or alcohol in his system.
 
zoobyshoe said:
I wonder if they'll find drugs or alcohol in his system.
And what if they do?
 
Dickfore said:
And what if they do?
If they don't, it'll make me wonder how he happened to drown in a swimming pool. Like, did he dive in and crack his head on the bottom?
 
zoobyshoe said:
If they don't, it'll make me wonder how he happened to drown in a swimming pool.

I'm thinking it was the water.
 
RIP Rodney King.
 
nucl34rgg said:
RIP Rodney King.

You know he was arrested multiple times for beating women? Not to mention the various drug and theft related crimes he has been arrested for, both before and after his beating by LAPD. Rodney King was pretty much a scumbag, I don't feel sorry for his death.
 

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