People love Hollywood. Tinseltown loves a good mystery. Put them together, and there is enough fodder for gossip and the industry rags to last, well, until the next murder mystery. When the next enigma is five months away, the intrigue grows.
When American actress Brittany Murphy died in, a 9/11 call was the first indicator that something bad had happened at Murphy’s Los Angeles home. Attempts to revive her at the house were unsuccessful, and a spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai confirmed Murphy’s death.
Arkady Bukh, Manhattan criminal lawyer, said, “In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and it is their wish that you respect their privacy.”
It would be the last time for a long time that the family would have any privacy.
The twice-engaged actress had married Hollywood director, Simon Monjack in 2007. Murphy had previously dated Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in 2003’s “Just Married.” Following Murphy’s death, Kutcher tweeted, “See you on the other side kid.”
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office initially ruled Murphy’s death was caused by an accidental drug overdose. When Monjack died from the same illnesses six months later, the county Health Services looked at the idea of a toxic mold being the culprit.
Speaking of Murphy’s death, the Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter explained to the Associated Press that the actress’ death appeared to be natural. On February 4, the coroner’s office said the prime cause of death was pneumonia with a secondary cause listed as iron-deficiency anemia and “multi-drug inebriation.”
The pharmaceuticals included “raised levels” of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and L-methamphetamine. Each of the medicines was legitimate, and the death ruled accidental. The coroner’s reported added: “the possible physiological effects of the levels of these medicines can’t be diminished, particularly in her physically weak state.”
The mystery deepened months later when Murphy’ widower, Monjack, was discovered deceased at the same residence. In July 2010, Winter said the reason for Monjack’s death was severe pneumonia and anemia.
Almost two years later, Murphy’s dad Angelo Bertolotti petitioned the Superior Court of California to demand the coroner turn over specimens of his child hair for private testing. When Bertolotti neglected to appear for two distinct discussions, the suit was dismissed.
Over a year-and-a-half went by before Bertolotti claimed that a toxicology statement indicated intentional poisoning by heavy metals containing antimony and barium as a potential agent of Murphy’s death.
In March 2016, rumors started flying around Hollywood that the investigation into Murphy’s death would be reopened. E! Online ran an article about the “Los Angeles Coroner Does Not Rule Out Reopening Investigation.”
Winter made it clear though in a subsequent interview with Entertainment that the investigation wouldn’t be reopened anytime soon. “At this time, we have nothing that points us to opening the inquiry. If more evidence were found or someone came forward, we would call law enforcement.”
Murphy’s death joins dozens of other unsolved murders in Hollywood. Meanwhile, the mystery continues, and the gossip spreads.
