Was the theory that Jeff Rice was poisoned just wishful thinking on his widow's part?
The late producer, who did freelance work on the current season of The Amazing Race, was found dead Friday on the balcony of his hotel room in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. His assistant, Katheryne Fuller, was found unconscious but she's said to be recovering at an area hospital.
But while Sally Blackman, Rice's wife, told reporters that there was evidence that her husband and Fuller were poisoned after an attempt at blackmailing him failed, police have told ABC News that Rice likely died of a cocaine overdose.
"Those were misreported rumors about this being some kind of attack by thugs," said Asuman Mugenyi of the Uganda Police Force. "We do not believe that, and we do not believe this was any type of food poisoning. Again, we are still investigating and will know much more when we can talk to Ms. Fuller."
"Ms. Fuller is slowly recovering, and when she is recovered enough we will be able to talk to her and find out more about what happened," Mugenyi added.
He did not offer any further details as to why police believe a cocaine overdose was the cause of death.
It's unclear how much time passed from when hotel staffers spotted Rice on the balcony to him being declared dead at the hospital.
"This is a tragic event and it is unbelievable to read the messages of how many lives he has positively influenced," Blackman wrote in an email to E! News from South Africa, where she and Rice lived with their two daughters, 2 and 7.
When contacted again today, she said that she had no further statement to make or information to give at this time.