Early in the morning of December 14, 1963, Washington's seventh husband, football great Dick "Night Train" Lane, went to sleep with Washington and awoke later to find her slumped over and not responsive.
Na mañá do 14 de decembro de 1963, o sétimo home de Washington, o xogador de fútbol Dick "Night Train" Lane, foi durmir con ela e espertou máis tarde atopándoa derrubada e sen resposta.