Update!

Source: Third Time's Not the Charm for Jackson Doc

Michael Jackson's personal cardiologist declining to give LAPD a third interview, a source tells E! News. His reps say he continues to cooperate

By Ken Baker, Brandi Fowler Jul 21, 2009 11:50 PMTags
Dr. Conrad Robert Murray, Michael JacksonAP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Pool Photographer

UPDATE: Dr. Conrad Murray's attorney has released the following statement reiterating that the doctor has been fully cooperating with the investigation into Michael Jackson's death:

"The coroner wants to clear up the case of death, we share that goal," Ed Chernoff said. "We don't have access to the most important information in this case...the toxicology report. We're still in the dark like everybody else.

"Based on Dr. Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges. Dr. Murray was the last doctor standing when Michael Jackson died and it seems all the fury is directed toward him."

Chernoff went on to say that the media attention on Murray has effectively forced him out of a livelihood.

"Dr. Murray is frustrated by negative and often erroneous media reports, he has to walk around 24-7 with a bodyguard. He can't operate his practice. He can't go to work because he is harassed no matter where he goes."

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Be it stress, annoyance or a slight case of laryngitis, it may be that Michael Jackson's personal physician is so over talking to the LAPD. 

Dr. Conrad Murray was first praised by the police department for his cooperation in the wake of Jackson's death, and his reps say that he continues to cooperate. But it seems the cardiologist has now been avoiding a third interview with LAPD investigators, according to a source close to the investigation of the pop icon's death. 

The doc was last interviewed by police two days after Jackson died. However, since then, the LAPD has shifted the focus of its investigation to medical professionals who treated Jackson in the last few months of his life. So, officials want to talk to Murray again.

Not only has the doc reportedly avoided this sit-down, but E! News has learned that Murray has gone MIA...at least publicly. The cardiologist had been staying in a Santa Monica condo, but has not been seen there in nearly three weeks. 

A rep for Murray declined to reveal his client's whereabouts, but unconfirmed reports have placed the cardiologist in Vegas and Houston during the last couple of weeks. 

Reps for Murray have insisted that the doctor is not a suspect and has been cooperating with police and L.A. County Coroner's officials.

As for Jackson's cause of death—the verdict is still out. While the L.A. Times reported that murder charges in the Michael Jackson case are unlikely, sources tell E! News "everything is on the table" with cops, who are still considering causes from manslaughter to murder until all evidence is in.

(Originally published on July 19, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. PT)

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Who might be ready to perform those London dates in Jackson's place? Find out.