Sage Stallone death: Police seek source of big, empty pill bottles

The investigation into the death of Sage Stallone, eldest son of actor Sylvester Stallone, has headed in a pharmaceutical direction, with authorities looking into the source of large bottles of prescription medication found empty at the scene.

Sage Stallone was found dead in his Studio City home on Friday.

Though it was still unclear if prescription drugs played a part in the actor-writer-producer’s unexpected death, the amount of empty bottles found was enough to merit investigation, law enforcement sources told L.A. Now. An autopsy was conducted over the weekend, with results still out pending toxicology tests.

Officials are also trying to pinpoint Sage Stallone’s time of death, L.A. Now said. One report had him dead for a few days before he was found Friday by his housekeeper, while another said he’d posted to Facebook within a day of being found.

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The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division joined the investigation early in the week, though authorities stressed at the time that it was still primarily a coroner’s case, with no evidence of foul play.

The 60 empty bottles allegedly found at Stallone’s Studio City home were, according to TMZ, the large 500-pill containers used to stock pharmacies. No hydrocodone pills were found at the home, the website said, only empty bottles marked for generic Vicodin that a “well-placed” source said most likely had been shipped in from outside the U.S.

Sasha Czack, Sage Stallone’s mother, said her son had had five teeth pulled two weeks before he was found dead at home, replying “Wouldn’t you be?” when asked by the New York Post if her son had been taking pain pills.

Meanwhile, condolences from around the world and in a number of languages could be seen on Sylvester Stallone’s website. Comments included prayers, sympathy and notes about what the “Rocky” actor’s work had meant to fans.

One example, submitted Thursday morning from a commenter going by the name “Petr”:

“Dear Sly, you are like a father to me, I am still alive because of you, because you showed me and still are showing me that giving up is for cowards. In these difficult times I beg you to use that inner power that you have and keep going on.

“You have it in you and you know how to use it, you are not alone, we and our hearts are with you and Sasha.”

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