The ongoing trial involving the theft of the Eagles’ lyrics has brought to light new details about an incident from 1980 involving Don Henley. As per Daily Mail, documents presented in court reveal differences in Henley’s account of the night a teenager overdosed at his home
The trial, which began this week, concerns the alleged theft of lyrics sheets from the Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’ era. As Daily Mail reports, a letter written by Henley to a Santa Monica probation officer, now introduced as evidence, provides a different account of the events leading to his arrest in 1980:
“She told me that she was only a temporary call girl until she paid off a $2,000 cocaine debt in San Diego. We talked all night — she about her troubles, me about mine. (She told me later after she got sick that she had taken more cocaine every time I got up to get her a drink or went to the toilet.)'”
Contrary to his long-standing claim of hosting a farewell party for the Eagles, Henley’s letter reveals that he was alone. The document also reveals that Henley and the young woman, who was 16 at that time, shared cocaine and tried to have sex the next morning, with the situation deteriorating to the point of her overdose:
“Early the next morning, we went to bed. We attempted to make love. Then, we slept for a couple of hours. She complained of not feeling well so I got her some aspirin. Then I went to the bathroom. I heard a crash in the bedroom. I rushed in and found her thrashing around on the bed. She appeared to be having an epileptic seizure.”
What Were Henley’s Previous Statements?
Henley’s previous public statements stated that the incident took place during a large gathering, with him taking full responsibility to protect others present:
“I had no idea how old she was. I had no idea that she was doing that many drugs; I didn’t have sex with her, you understand. Yes, she was a hooker; yes, I called a madam; yes, there were roadies and guys in my house – we were having a farewell to the Eagles. I got all of them out of the house; I took complete blame for everything. I was stupid; I could have flushed everything down the toilet. I didn’t want this girl dying in my house. I wanted to get her medical attention. I did what I thought was best, and I paid the price.”
However, the letter indicates a different scenario, with no mention of a party or other individuals involved until after the tragedy unfolded.
The legal repercussions for Henley at the time included a no-contest plea to contribute to the delinquency of a minor, resulting in two years probation and a $2,500 fine. The incident, which once seemed to have little impact on Henley’s career, is now under renewed scrutiny as the trial progresses.
The Stolen Eagles Lyrics Incident
The theft trial itself stems from charges against three men accused of stealing approximately 100 pages of Henley’s handwritten notes and lyrics. This is an event separate from the 1980 incident, but they are interconnected through the introduction of Henley’s letter into the trial records.
The stolen manuscripts, valued at around $1 million, were allegedly sold and then attempted to be resold, leading to charges of conspiracy and criminal possession, among other accusations.
In addition to the legal battles, the Eagles continue to make headlines with their final tour across America. A new collection, ‘To The Limit: The Essential Collection,’ is set to release, commemorating the band’s career with a mix of hits, album tracks, and live performances. You can pre-order here.
