This article contains references to addiction, mental health challenges, and suicide.

The tragic passing of Benjamin Keough, Lisa Marie Presley’s son with ex-husband Danny Keough, at just 27 years old in July 2020 left the family devastated. Lisa Marie, who had faced immense loss previously including that of her iconic father at age 9, struggled deeply with the loss. In May 2022, she candidly expressed on Instagram her overwhelming grief, saying, “Navigating through this hideous grief that has shattered my heart and soul into almost nothing has consumed me.”

Riley Keough, Benjamin’s sister, also faced intense pain after her brother’s death. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, she shared, “There were four or five months where I couldn’t get out of bed.” This devastation extended into the following years, with Riley attributing her mother’s death in January 2023 to a broken heart.

Despite being a source of joy for his family, Benjamin battled his own demons. Below are some revealing aspects of Benjamin Keough’s life and untimely death.

When Benjamin was 16, his mother Lisa Marie began her descent into opioid addiction. In the foreword to her 2019 book, “The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation in Pain,” she explained that her addiction began after receiving painkillers post-delivery of her twins in 2008. Over time, her dependency grew, leading her to use cocaine and alcohol as well. “I was not happy,” she admitted during an interview, revealing that her struggle with addiction started around age 45.

In a 2017 court deposition linked to her high-profile divorce from Michael Lockwood, she disclosed her battles, stating she underwent five rehab treatments and struggled significantly, particularly with cocaine abuse in the final years of her marriage. At this point, Benjamin would have been in his early twenties, confronting his own understated challenges.

Just as Lisa Marie sought to keep her addiction struggles private, Benjamin also appeared to do the same. Following news of his passing, a family friend revealed to blogger Tony Ortega that he had recently completed a rehabilitation program for substance abuse.

According to Keough’s autopsy, which was reviewed by The Sun, he had a history of alcohol and drug use. Both substances were found in his system at the time of his death, and it was indicated that he had undergone rehab on three occasions, although he completed a program only once. Reports highlighted that just a few months before passing, he had spent three weeks in treatment.

His struggles were likely compounded by his upbringing within Scientology, which has faced criticism for its unconventional methods in dealing with addiction. As noted by former critics, the church promotes the Narconon program, which claims to cure alcoholism, leading followers to believe they can safely drink again post-treatment.