‘The Amazing Race’ producer Jeff Rice may have died in Africa of poisoning, wife says

The wife of former The Amazing Race producer Jeff Rice claims that her husband’s death was caused by poisoning. Rice, who was just 39-years-old, was staying at a hotel in Kampala, Uganda in Africa. A production assistant was also poisoned and is clinging to his life.

Rice’s widow, Sally Blackman, told Fox News.com that she believes that they were not attacked, but all evidence points towards being poisoned...[A]t this stage it is quite difficult to give you any firm reports as the incident is currently under investigation by the Uganda police."

Another source for Fox News.com said that the two men were possibly poisoned after local thugs attempted a failed shakedown in their hotel room. Blackman said that she would not release further information because it might conflict with the Uganda police investigation. She also did not give the name of the assistant, only saying that he is in critical condition and was working for Rice’s Maverick Entertainment production company.

Paul Blackman, Rice’s brother-in-law, told MSNBC in an interview from South Africa that, “We've sent people up there to get some answers...Nothing is finalized yet.” He also said that he is not sure where the media “...are getting this 'definitely poisoned' thing.”

Paul Blackman added that Rice, an Oklahoma native with dual citizenship in the US and South Africa, was working on a documentary or possible show about Uganda.

Rice and his wife also ran SB Productions in Durban, South Africa. He was not working on The Amazing Race at the time. His other work includes Animal Planet’s Whale Wars.

CBS had no comment when contacted by Fox News.com, while Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, which produces The Amazing Race, said that Bruckheimer was not aware of Rice’s death.

Rice is survived by his wife, who he married in 2001, and their two daughters, aged seven and almost two.