How did Anna Nicole Smith’s son die? His tragic death after the birth of the Danielin sisters

When Anna Nicole Smith got into the spotlight in the 1990s, there was one son, Daniel Wayne Smith, who was always by her side. Daniel was born in 1986 when she married her first husband, Billy Wayne Smith. They tied the knot and later when they divorced in 1993, they were teenagers.

Anna Nicole and Daniel had a close relationship. She once said to people, “The best present he gave me is this plaque he made, says, ‘I love you, mom, your son forever.’

Daniel tragically passed away on September 10, 2006, just three days after Anna Nicole gave birth to her daughter, Danielin, on September 7th. He was 20 years old.

Daniel had just flew from Los Angeles to the Bahamas to meet his mother and met his new sister, but he wasn’t feeling well.

David Jeancola, director of Anna Nicole’s Film Violation Alien, told people shortly after Daniel’s death. “They weren’t sure if they should get him on the plane, but Anna wanted him to be there, so Daniel wanted to go,” he said.

He arrived in Nassau late on September 9th, where he met his sister and hugged his mother in the hospital. Anna Nicole’s lawyer and partner Howard K. Stern was also on hand. Hospital workers remember seeing Daniel still caring for his mother in the early hours, but everyone fell asleep.

However, when Anna Nicole woke up late that morning, she realized that Daniel was not breathing. The doctors tried to revive Daniel, but at 10:05am he was declared dead. Michael Scott, Anna Nicole’s Nassau lawyer, told people she was “so distraught that she refused to leave Daniel’s side and needed to sedate her to check her out from the hospital.”

A family friend told people who bonded with Daniel and his mother, “He did whatever his mom said, whether he was cooking or doing the laundry. The pair “worshiped each other.” Jeancola told people that Daniel was “very mature” and that he was aiming to become a producer.

The autopsy ultimately found that Daniel died from a combination of drugs, including methadone and antidepressants. A Bahamian ju judge ruled in March 2008 that his death was a accidental overdose and that he did not recommend criminal charges per CBS.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in November 2006, Smith said he didn’t remember anything from the day Daniel passed away, except when Stern said he was dead.

“I thought they were playing that game they were playing on TV…punk,” she said. Later in the interview, she shed tears, she said, “I don’t know why God didn’t take him and take me.”

Anna Nicole passed away in February 2007 five months after Daniel’s death. Her death ultimately ruled out an accidental drug overdose.

“You have to think about it. My daughter was born on September 7th and September 10th. Daniel has passed away. Daniel’s father, Larry Burkhead, said in February 2017.