Shonka Dukureh's cause of death has been determined a month after she was found dead inside her Nashville home.
In July, Dukureh passed away at the age of 44. Nashville police found her body in a bedroom of her apartment. At that time, the authorities said that the autopsy results were still pending as the medical examiner was still processing them.
Over a month after her death, the Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner dropped more details about it and clarified whether foul play was involved.
On Tuesday, the medical examiner revealed to Fox News Digital that Shonka Dukureh's cause of death was due to "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease."
It added that there were no signs of foul play, resonating with the police's initial findings.
John Hopkins Medicine describes atherosclerosis as a state wherein the arteries become hardened and thickened due to the buildup of plaque in their inner lining. It is usually a slow, progressive disease but can progress rapidly sometimes.
The development came after the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Dukureh's death after receiving a call. It was disclosed that one of her two young children ran to a neighbor's apartment and asked for help.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper, at that time, took his time to send a message of condolences to the actress's bereaved family through a statement (via Fox17).
"My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh. Shonka graduated from Fisk and called Nashville home for many years. Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day," the mayor said.
RIP, Shonka Dukureh
Dukureh received messages from fans, especially those who watched her in the Baz Luhrmann film "Elvis."
In the film, she played the role of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, an R&B singer who sang "Hound Dog." It served as the late actress's first major film appearance.
Aside from starring in the film, Dukureh was also featured on the film's soundtrack and the music video for "Vegas." Doja Cat's song was also played in the film.
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Before her death, she was still able to pen a heartfelt message after scoring her breakthrough role in "Elvis."
Luhrmann then honored her, saying that the actress was loved by the whole cast and crew of "Elvis." The director also said in his TIME piece that he discovered Dukureh when she was singing gospel. With that, he always found her voice "lifting people up."
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