Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death to Remain Undetermined as Family Declines Autopsy
Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death will go undetermined, after the actress’ family objected to an autopsy for religious reasons, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York told ABC-7 Eyewitness News.
Trachtenberg, whose many credits included TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, was found dead by her mother on Feb. 26 in a New York City apartment near Columbus Circle. She was 39.
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In the immediate wake of Trachtenberg’s tragic passing, there were reports that she had recently undergone a liver transplant and might have experienced complications; as such, her death was not believed to be suspicious.
Trachtenberg’s death came less than a month after news broke that Hulu is developing a Buffy sequel series. The as-yet-untitled project is said to be focused on a new Slayer and “the next chapter in the Buffyverse,” with Sarah Michelle Gellar appearing in a recurring role rather than a leading one.
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