What Killed Ric Ocasek, Eddie Money Revealed

Ric Ocasek

Ric Ocasek's family is opening up about the death of The Cars frontman, reports USAToday.

In a statement released Monday, Paula Porizkova, the rocker's wife of nearly 30 years, said the rocker died "peacefully" in his sleep.

"Ric was at home recuperating very well after surgery," Porizkova, said in an Instagram post. "Our two sons, Jonathan and Oliver, and I were making sure he was comfortable, ordering food and watching TV together. I found him still asleep when bringing him his Sunday morning coffee. I touched his cheek to rouse him. It was then I realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on."

New York Police Detective Martin Brown said that police were called to Ocasek's residence around 4 p.m. EDT Sunday. "Upon arrival, police found a 75-year-old male unresponsive in bed," Brown said. "He was pronounced dead at the scene."

Eddie Money

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York concluded Monday that Ocasek died of natural causes, determining that hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was the cause of death, with pulmonary emphysema a contributing condition.

That means he suffered from high blood pressure, a chronic lung condition and a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in his arteries.

Meanwhile, Eddie Money's death last week was not the result of his stage 4 cancer but of complications from the heart valve procedure the singer underwent in January, a representative told People magazine.