Left Photo: Malika Haqq instagram photo of her (left), Lamar Odom's best friend Jamie Sangouthai (top left), Lamar Odom (middle) and Khloe Kardashian (right). Right Photo: Getty Image of Jamie Sangouthai.
The father of Lamar Odom's best childhood friend believes the death of his son ultimately led to the NBA and reality TV star's downward spiral that left him unconscious in a Nevada brothel and now fighting for his life.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Daily News, Guillermo Castillo said his son's death in June from a heroin-related infection left Odom reeling and in need of an intervention.
Though it may sound "very cold-blooded," Castillo told the Daily News, "I think Lamar is done. I think most of it is because he missed my son so much. I think deep inside they had a death wish, or a wish to die together.
Jamie Sangouthai, 37, died at a downtown Los Angeles hospital on June 14th from a bacterial infection stemming from his heroin use. Sangouthai was the best man at Odom and wife Khloe Kardashian's wedding in September 2009. Sangouthai and Odom were best friends since high school and Castillo said his son and Odom "couldn't live without each other."
Castillo believes the re-run of an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" on Sunday night, which showed Khloe's reaction to news of Sangouthai's death, may have contributed to Odom's suspected overdose at the ranch.
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Odom had reportedly been battling a cocaine addiction and Castillo told the Daily News he wished someone would have forced the former Los Angeles Lakers star into therapy. Short of blaming the Kardashians specifically, the grieving father believes "everybody" around Odom saw the signs that he needed help and no one did anything.
Meanwhile, Odom continues to fight for his life as authorities retrace his $75,000, three-day visit to the legal brothel in Nevada called the Love Ranch. Odom was found unconscious at the brothel Tuesday with white and reddish substances pouring out of his nose and mouth. Officials are describing it as a possible drug-related medical episode.
There's been no official word on Odom's condition at a Las Vegas hospital, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Wednesday he's on life support. Odom's grandmother, Florence Odom, declined to comment on his status Thursday, saying she was distressed at unfounded speculation that her grandson would be taken off life support. His father, Joe Odom, also declined to discuss his condition, saying that information was confidential.
Odom's estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, rushed to his side at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Since then, friends, teammates and loved ones have visited and posted requests for prayers on social media.
Authorities have taken blood tests to figure out if Odom overdosed on drugs or alcohol, but the results could take several weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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