On April 21st, the world lost a musical figure beloved by millions. Known for his iconic album “Purple Rain”, Prince was a Minneapolis-born singer/songwriter whose eclectic work in the realms of funk, R&B, and rock defined the musical scene of the 1980s. His untimely death, at the age of 57, shocked family, friends, and fans alike, who gathered en masse to hold memorials and tributes to the late singer. But, as the celebrations of Prince’s life come to a close, controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death still remain.

Prior to death, Prince was last seen at 8 p.m., on Wednesday night when he was dropped off at his Paisley Park residence by a friend. He was later found unconscious in an elevator on Thursday evening by three unidentified staff members. After attempts to resuscitate him failed, Prince was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. According to Carver County deputy sheriff Jason Kamerud, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. “Foul play is not suspected, [but has not been ruled out],” said Kamerud, in an interview with the Associated Press.

The next day, an autopsy was performed on Prince’s body by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office but an official release cautioned that “results, including toxicology, will likely take several weeks.” In the meantime, his body was passed onto his family to be cremated and buried in a private service.

Although neither family members nor Prince’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, have made any public statements regarding possible causes of death, clues have emerged that might provide insight into Prince’s final hours.

According to Prince’s brother-in-law, Maurice Phillips, the legendary singer “worked 154 hours straight” in the days prior to his death. While this has not been confirmed, Prince had long been known by close friends and family to function on very little sleep, spending his time recording into the wee hours of the night. Many now speculate that exhaustion from sleep deprivation may have led to his collapse.

Another hint comes in the form of an emergency landing, made by Prince’s private plane at a small airport in Moline, Illinois, during a return flight to Minneapolis. Prince had boarded the plane after cancelling shows in Atlanta, and at 2 a.m., the pilot made an unscheduled landing on grounds of medical emergency. On the scene, air traffic control received reports of an “unresponsive male passenger” aboard the plane and Prince’s publicist later confirmed that he had been released from a local hospital after being treated for influenza.

The next Saturday, Prince held a concert at his Paisley Park residence, where local fans recalled that he seemed slightly weaker and paler than normal. Prince was later quoted as saying onstage, “Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.”

Although Prince’s poor health and sleep deprivation may have contributed to his death, the precise cause is still unknown, and will remain so for the next few weeks. In the meantime, fans continue to mourn his passing and plans for official commemoration are already underway.

Petitions have begun circulating to rename a park or light-rail line in Minneapolis after the late singer. Jacob Frey, a Minneapolis city council member, has formally proposed changing the name of what is currently known as the Downtown East Commons to “Prince Park” or “Purple Rain Park” in honor of Prince’s legacy. “This park was meant to be the kitchen table of our city, where everybody comes together, and nobody brings people together like Prince,” said Frey, in an interview with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.