Robin Williams died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at his home in Tiburon, California. He killed himself by hanging, using a belt that was wrapped around his neck and secured between a closet door and door frame, causing asphyxiation
. He was found in a seated position in his bedroom with a belt around his neck and a pocket knife nearby, along with superficial cuts on his left wrist, indicating he had also attempted to cut himself
. Williams had been suffering from severe depression and anxiety, and had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. However, after his death, an examination of his brain tissue revealed he had diffuse Lewy body dementia, a condition that causes Parkinsonism symptoms, paranoia, hallucinations, and severe cognitive decline. This diagnosis is believed to have been a critical factor contributing to his suicide
. Toxicology reports showed that he had antidepressants, caffeine, and levodopa (a Parkinson's medication) in his system, but all at therapeutic levels, indicating he did not overdose deliberately
. There was no involvement of alcohol or illegal drugs
. In summary, Robin Williams took his own life by hanging himself with a belt, influenced by a combination of severe depression and the neurological effects of Lewy body dementia, which had been misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease
