Sullivan was found dead at his home in Huntington Beach, California on December 28, 2009, by his wife Leana McFadden, at approximately 1 pm. Huntington Beach police said the death was from natural causes, according to the scene. The autopsy results were inconclusive. The toxicology report confirmed that James suffered a "serious poisoning given the combined effects of Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Diazepam / nordiazepam, and ethanol.
First two substances are analgesics to relieve pain, "the Diazepam is to combat anxiety and ethanol is the poison you put into the body by consuming alcohol. A lethal mix multiplier effects because the drummer suffered from cardiomegaly, ie, that his heart was larger than normal. In fact, this point has been noted by the coroner as a "condition factor" to his death. Which means that he died on medication and no drugs.