Confusion Mounts As Conflicting Statements Emerge In Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Death

Conflicting accounts are surfacing in the aftermath of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s tragic death in Costa Rica, with a local police chief standing firm on his claim that the beloved actor drowned while trying to save his young daughter.

Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," died on July 20 at age 54 after being caught in a powerful rip current while swimming off Cocles Beach in Limón.

Initial reports from authorities indicated that Malcolm-Jamal Warner had been in the water with his eight-year-old daughter when the tragedy struck, and that surfers rushed to help bring them to shore.

Now, Elberth León, Chief of the Tourist Police of the Atlantic Region, is doubling down on that version of events despite conflicting statements from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

“I responded to the incident and I know what I saw,” León told Us Weekly on July 28. “The Red Cross also treated the girl [on site] and she didn’t need to go to the clinic.”

However, the OIJ released a separate account last Thursday, saying Warner’s daughter was not in the water at the time of his drowning.

“Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,” their statement read. “It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out. However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach.”

Red Cross officials confirmed they treated two adult men who were pulled from the water that day.

One was transported in critical condition to a nearby clinic, while Warner was given CPR on the beach but tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The OIJ later confirmed Warner’s autopsy was completed on July 22, ruling his cause of death as “asphyxia due to submersion.” His death has been classified as accidental.

In a resurfaced interview with CBS News' Jericka Duncan, Bill Cosby praised Warner’s dedication to his craft, remembering the late actor as someone who always took his work seriously.

“He was never afraid to go to his room and study and make sure he followed whatever he had learned in the acting school he went to,” Cosby recalled.

Warner himself often spoke about the significance, and later the loss, of "The Cosby Show"’s cultural weight. In a 2015 interview with the Associated Press, amid the sexual assault allegations against Cosby, Warner admitted he was heartbroken by the show’s fall from grace.

“The fact that we no longer have that, that’s the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale,” he said at the time.

Years later, Warner doubled down on that sentiment in an interview with CBS News Pittsburgh, reflecting on the show’s enduring global reach.

“That show had such an impact on the culture here in America but also a global impact on how, you know, Black people saw ourselves globally and how the rest of the world saw us,” Warner explained. “So I’m proud to have been part of that legacy, and it’s been a great ride ever since.”

Actress Angelique Bates has shared an emotional tribute to Warner, exclusively telling The Blast that the late actor was her “only true hero” in Hollywood.

Bates reflected on how Warner’s kindness and courage left a lasting mark on her life, especially during a difficult period in her childhood acting career. She said the news of his sudden passing at 54 has left her heartbroken.

"This morning, I woke up to the devastating news that I've lost the only true hero I've ever had in this twisted industry," she expressed. " I still can't believe I'm even writing these words. Malcolm-Jamal Warner's name is the very last one I ever imagined hearing in this context."

Raven-Symoné is also grieving the loss of her former "Cosby Show" co-star, Warner.

On July 22, the actress, 39, shared a simple yet powerful tribute on Instagram, posting a black screen with the words “I love you” alongside a dove emoji. The understated message spoke volumes, reflecting the deep bond she shared with Warner and the heartbreak she feels in the wake of his sudden passing.

RIP.