Whitney Houston was murdered by thugs, according to private detective

A top private investigator has poured doubt on Whitney Houston's drowning death verdict, insisting she was murdered by drug bosses she owed over $1 million to.

Paul Huebl claims he has evidence that suggests the tragic singer was killed by two men collecting a drug debt.

Houston was found dead in a bathtub in her Beverly Hills hotel suite in February (12), and the detective tells The Sun, "I have evidence that points to Whitney being a victim of high-powered drug dealers who sent thugs to collect a huge debt she owed for drugs.

"Whitney's body shows classic defense wounds that would have occurred while she was battling for her life."

And Huebl claims he has CCTV footage to back up his findings.

A month after Houston's passing, officials at the Los Angeles County coroner's office ruled that Houston died from drowning combined with the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".