Anne Heche's organ recipients identified as actress is taken off life support a week after tragic accident
Update: Earlier it was reported that Anne Heche would be taken off life support on Sunday, August 14. TMZ quoted a representative for the actress as saying "Anne Heche has been peacefully taken off life support." It happened on Sunday afternoon.
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MAR VISTA, LOS ANGELES: Actress Anne Heche was taken off life support on Sunday, August 14, after suitable organ recipients were identified by health officials. Heche, who was 53, died a week after she was critically injured in a car crash, which took place while she was "high on cocaine". The drug was reportedly found in Heche's bloodstream after the crash, but she had not been drinking alcohol. She had been pictured with a bottle of vodka in her cup holder. Heche was pronounced brain dead days after the crash in which her car burst into flames.
Heche was kept on life support even after her death to preserve her organs until recipients were found. Sources told TMZ that surgeons removed multiple organs over the weekend. It is unclear which ones these are or how many. Heche is survived by her sons Homer and Atlas.
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The LAPD was initially treating the crash as a potential felony considering the woman whose house the car crashed into suffered injuries. The woman, Lynne Mishele, was inside the house at the time. It is unclear how bad Mishele's injuries were. However, the police have now announced that "there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case," but "any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities", according to People.
After Heche's death, a rep for her family told TMZ, "We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact."
Meanwhile, Mishele expressed her sorrow and gave a message to the late actress' family and friends in an Instagram post. "The news of Anne Heche passing is devastating. Her family and her friends and her children especially really have suffered a great loss and my heart goes out for them," Mishele said in a video post on Instagram. "This entire situation is tragic and there really are just no words. I am sending love to everyone involved," she added. Prior to the crash, Mishele had been helping her dog heal from cancer. A GoFundMe was set up for Mishele, who narrowly escaped physical harm in the crash. The house, however, was completely damaged.