Anna Nicole Smith's Bahamian attorney, Michael Scott, says Smith had to be sedated after the death Sunday of her 20-year-old son Daniel.


Scott read from a prepared statement Wednesday, the Associated Press reports

"Anna Nicole was so distraught at the loss of Daniel that she refused to leave his side, and it was necessary to sedate her in order to check her out of the hospital. The devastation and grief over Daniel's sudden death, coupled with the sedation, has been so extreme that Anna Nicole experienced memory loss of the event,"

Police said Wednesday that a third person was in the hospital room when Daniel died, although they did not believe that person acted criminally. Scott identified the third person as Smith's lawyer and confidant, Howard K. Stern. He said Smith and Stern kept trying to revive Daniel after he had been declared dead by staff at Nassau's Doctors Hospital.


He added that because Smith suffered memory loss, it

"was necessary for Howard to tell Anna again that Daniel had passed away."

Smith is now in seclusion in the Bahamas with her friends and family, "as you would expect (of) any parent who has sustained this kind of loss."


Scott also called media reports that Daniel had antidepressants or other drugs in his system "sheer speculation. It's irresponsible speculation, may I point out."


Reginald Ferguson, assistant commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, told the AP that no drug paraphernalia or traces of illegal drugs were found on Daniel, in the hospital room or near the room, and that police believe he'd gone directly to Doctors Hospital after arriving in the Bahamas.


On Wednesday, an official in the Bahamas labeled Daniel's death "suspicious" and said a formal inquiry was set to begin Oct. 23.