Anna Nicole Smith's Son Confided in Private Detective  3/23/07

Anna Nicole Smith's late son Daniel feared his mother was being kept in a drugged state and came close to hiring a private detective to investigate her relationship with companion Howard K Stern, according to US reports.

California private investigator Jack E. Harding has revealed the troubled 20-year-old came to him with his concerns three months before he died last September (06) - but never followed through on his plans to commission the detective.

In a private meeting, Daniel told Harding he feared his mother was being held "a virtual prisoner" in Nassau, the Bahamas by Stern, who was controlling her like a svengali.

Harding tells US tabloid the Globe, "Daniel felt Stern was keeping her on mind-bending drugs even though she was pregnant (with baby Dannielynn). He feared for his mother's well-being... and he was angry at being pushed out of his mother's life."

Following Daniel's suspicious drug overdose death days after his baby sister was born, the private detective contacted Bahamian detectives.

He adds, "I told them of our discussions and Daniel's concerns. They seemed interested."

And then, when Anna Nicole Smith died last month (FEB07), Harding's suspicions left him with several questions.

He explains, "When two people die so tragically in ways that may be related... police need to pursue every lead."