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Show Ken Sitzberger's death ruled accidental California press on Sitzberger's Sitzber-ger's connection to drug rings and underworld characters. charac-ters. Sitzberger was scheduled schedul-ed to testify before a California grand jury concerning con-cerning the indictments against five men suspected of operating a major cocaine distribution ring in southern California. And although Sitzberger's golden-boy image had been tarnished by what a Los Angeles Times feature article ii described as drug use and bankrupcy, he had made a commitment to pull his life back together. According to a Feb. 12 article Sitzberger had been able to stop using drugs and had begun running and lifting weights every day. Beyond a new awareness and promises to his family to reform, Sitzberger had begun new business transactions transac-tions that "were expected to ease his financial . difficulties." difficul-ties." He had also just signed another contract with ABC television to do color commentary for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Sitzberger gained national prominence when he captured captur-ed an Olympic gold medal in 1964 in the three-meter springboard diving event in Tokyo at the age of 19. In 1979 he moved to Park City where he held interests in a number of businesses and properties. In 1982 Sitzberger Sitzber-ger moved X Coronado, California.- 1 1 f The death of former Parkite and Olympic gold medalist Ken Sitzberger has ; been officially ruled acciden-?tal acciden-?tal by Coronado, California I police following the Feb. 7 I release of a coroner's report. I Sitzbergers Jan. 1 death 'had been listed as "suspicious" "suspi-cious" by the Coronado Police Department pending an investigation by the coroner and an opinion from the San Diego County district attorney's office concerning California's manslaughter statute. In an official statement, Coronado Police said that Sitzberger had hit his head ' during a scuffle at a party in ; his home on New Year's Eve. j The blow, according to the coroner's report, caused a brain hemorrhage that led to his death. According to the police report, Sitzberger became angry with one of the guests and tried to pick a fight with the man twice. On the second j attempt Sitzberger reportedly reported-ly fell hitting his head on a sofa. Police would not release the identity of the man, who apparently was not interested interest-ed in fighting. Upon Sitzberger's death, reports swirled through the |
