Authorities: Pickens' Grandson Died of Heroin Use Authorities say the grandson of billionaire T. Boone Pickens died of heroin intoxication after an evening of drug use at a friend's apartment. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office announced Wednesday that the Jan. 29 death of Thomas "Ty" Boone Pickens IV was accidental. Medical officials had to wait weeks to receive toxicology and other test results before announcing the cause of death for the 21-year-old, who was a junior at Texas Christian University. The younger Pickens died at a hospital after being taken there by private vehicle. Another TCU student was charged with tampering with evidence after police said he removed items from the apartment and hid them from authorities. Police say the evidence included heroin, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.