Heiress Eva Rausing Found Dead in London Home, Husband Held in Connection With Her Death
By: ALYSSA NEWCOMB
Updated: July 10, 2012
One of Britain's richest men is being held by police in connection with the death of his American wife, who was found dead in the couple's London home.
Eva Rausing, 48, was found dead in her Belgravia home by Metropolitan Police on Monday, according to a police spokesperson.
A post-mortem held today at Westminster Mortuary did not establish a formal cause of death, according to police.
The arrest of Hans Kristian Rausing, 49, on drug charges had prompted police to search the couple's tony residence, the spokesperson said.
Metropolitan police did not name Hans Kristian Rausing, however they confirmed a 49-year-old man had been taken into custody regarding a woman's death and possession of drugs.
Officers stood guard outside the home today.
Hans Kristian Rausing, who is Swedish, is the heir to the Tetra Pak food packaging empire. His father, Hans Rausing Sr., has an estimated net worth of $10 billion, according to Forbes' 2010 rankings.
Rausing was held at a south London polcie station, but is now receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment. Police declined to further discuss the situation.
The couple had previously been in trouble for possessing drugs.
They were arrested in 2008 after Eva Rausing allegedly tried to sneak drugs into the U.S. Embassy in London.
Officers searched the couple's home where they found crack, heroin and cocaine.
The couple was issued a formal caution and the charges were dropped.
At the time of the embassy incident, Eva Rausing told reporters that she was ashamed of her actions.
"I hope in due course to get back on track," Rausing reportedly said at the time. "I am sorry for the upset I have caused."
