Warning: this content discusses topics including suicide, mental health struggles, and substance abuse.

The autopsy report of Benjamin Keough unveiled harrowing details about the son of Lisa Marie Presley. Benjamin, who was born to musician Danny Keough and is the brother of actress Riley Keough, tragically took his own life on July 12, 2020, at the age of 27. A preliminary report released shortly after confirmed his demise was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additional autopsy findings surfaced months later, revealing the depth of Benjamin’s suffering.

In October 2020, The U.S. Sun reported that Benjamin had battled “depression” and had alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. The night of his passing, it was noted that he celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday but locked himself in the bathroom after what appeared to be an argument, as captured by surveillance footage. In the months leading to his death, Benjamin faced severe “major depression,” often isolating himself in his bedroom. The autopsy disclosed that he had undergone multiple rehab stints and had attempted suicide six months prior.

Like his mother and grandfather Elvis Presley, Benjamin pursued a career in music, which some friends believed added to his stress. Musician Brandon Howard expressed that the weight of familial expectations played a significant role in Benjamin’s struggles. Following his death, a private funeral service was held, but the manner of body preservation before the funeral was particularly unusual.

According to a report from The U.S. Sun on July 27, 2020, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough conducted a private funeral for Benjamin. One revealing detail was that “Ben was laid in an open casket wearing a designer suit, which stunned some attendees given the tragic circumstances of his death.” However, the unusual aspect of their grieving process was how they managed Benjamin’s body in the interim.

Following his passing, Benjamin’s body remained in their home on dry ice for an extended period in a controlled environment of 55 degrees. Lisa Marie later detailed in her memoir, released in October 2024, that California law does not mandate immediate burials. She found solace in a similar practice that occurred following Elvis’s death. Memorializing her brother, she recalled a conversation with a funeral director where it was suggested they could keep his body at home if they cared for it. “I grew accustomed to caring for him during that time,” she reflected. While a service occurred shortly after Benjamin’s passing, he was not buried until two months later.

Experiencing her brother’s death profoundly affected Riley’s outlook on mortality. Less than a year later, she announced her training as a death doula, indicating her desire to help others navigate grief. Riley has also shared insights on how Benjamin’s tragic death influenced their mother.

In the wake of Benjamin Keough’s devastating passing, Riley expressed her sorrow openly. Just days following his suicide, she shared touching photographs of them together on Instagram, accompanying them with a poignant message. “Not you sweet Ben Ben. Anyone but you. I guess this is true heartbreak. I hope we meet again,” she wrote in July 2020. The subsequent year, on the anniversary of his death, Riley honored his memory once more with a collection of nostalgic childhood photos on her Instagram page.