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An autopsy was not performed on Dennis Shields’ body due to religious reasons, according to authorities.
Shields,Bethenny Frankel‘s on-off boyfriend, wasfound deadof a suspected overdose in his Trump Tower apartment on Aug. 10. He was 51.
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office announced Wednesday that it has ruled the cause and manner of the fatality undetermined.
Frankel declined to comment via a rep.
A spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office was unable to elaborate and told PEOPLE there would be no further comment.
“All we can say is that we did not complete the autopsy so we cannot definitively say what the cause of death is,” said the spokesperson.
Frankel, 47, first met the New York City-based banker almost 30 years ago when he dated (and later married) one of her high school friends, Jill. Though she didn’t stay in touch with her classmate, Frankel and Shields shared other mutual pals and began dating in 2016, several months after he separated fromhis wife. (Jill previouslyaddressed Shields’ deathin an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, saying: “We are all heartbroken. Dennis was, and will always be, the love of my life. His spirit lives on in our children. Please respect our family’s privacy at this time.”)
While a source told PEOPLE Frankel and Shields’ coupling was“unconventional and not always exclusive,”they did consider marriage in the months before his death — and he evengave her an engagement ring, according a source.
RELATED VIDEO:Bethenny FrankelSays She ‘Never Knows Exactly’ Where Relationship Stands with Dennis Shields
On Sunday, theReal Housewives of New York Citystar spoke out abouther sorrowon Twitter.
“It’s hard to breathe & I appreciate you giving me the space & support to try to do so,” shewrote. “It’s excruciating-sudden death is no closure & constant ?s & memories.”
She continued, “Our relationship is current so it’s painfully raw. Trying to stay healthy & move through it w tears & close friends. Xo.”
source: people.com
