In light of the coroner's report that emerged this week in the death of Brittany Murphy on Dec. 20, fans of the late actress here in Southern California and nationwide are wondering just what killed her.
Following an interview on Larry King Live Friday evening with Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, and mother, Sharon Murphy, there are now more questions than answers.
It is safe to say that we all deal with the loss of a loved one in different manners, simply stating, there is no set way one is supposed to act.
Having watched the entire hour's interview with the two Friday evening, one would wonder just how much they really know and are saying about what went on in that house the morning of Dec. 20 in the Hollywood Hills.
Murphy's death is being reported as an accident, mostly due to pneumonia, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. Additional findings that anemia and prescription drugs also played a role leave several unanswered questions.
Monjack and Sharon Murphy told investigators Murphy had been experiencing flu-like symptoms days before she died. On LKL, Monjack indicated that his wife was suffering from a bout of laryngitis at worst.
So how then does a 32-year-old woman go from suffering from some laryngitis to collapsing in her bathroom one morning and being declared dead barely two hours later?
The coroner determined that Murphy's death was from "community acquired pneumonia," while also noting as contributing factors, iron deficiency anemia and "multiple drug intoxication."
According to the coroner's office, Murphy would likely have survived if she had gone to a doctor in time.
The actress did have an appointment with a physician a few days after she died, according to information from the family and the coroner's office.
In comments made to the media this week, Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner in New York City, said the coroner's determination indicated drugs likely had played a key role in Murphy's death.
Baden noted the use of some prescription medications can lead to pneumonia, and the coroner's office may have listed that as the primary cause to decrease the blow to Murphy's family.
"One doesn't die of pneumonia, usually, that quickly," Baden said in comments to the Associated Press.
While fully understanding that both Monjack and Sharon Murphy are still dealing with the loss of their loved one, it seems a bit strange to say the least that this young woman's death could not have been prevented.
In an interview with the Associated Press last month, Monjack insisted that his late wife “died of natural causes and not prescription drugs or an eating disorder”.
According to Monjack, Murphy dealt with mitral valve prolapse (in which a heart valve does not close properly), but doctors assured her that she “would live a long and healthy life.”
Despite rumors that a number of prescription pills were located on Murphy's nightstand at the time of her death, Monjack said “The actress occasionally took the anti-seizure drug Klonopin following an incident during the filming of 8 Mile”.
In the LKL interview Friday evening, both Monjack and Sharon Murphy denied reports of drug abuse, eating disorders and unhappiness in Murphy's life, other than to say that Murphy had wanted to move to New York, where she and Monjack were planning on starting a family.
Sharon Murphy and Monjack ended the show by noting that they plan to launch the Brittany Murphy Foundation, benefiting arts education for children, sometime in 2010.
A memorial for the foundation in Murphy's name had been slated for Thursday, but was abruptly canceled with no explanation.
Comments
something is terribly wrong w/ those two people. i dont care how
much u are mourning a death they are both unsettled folks.
I agree with deed. My wife and I were aghast at their behavior. They seemed very "familiar," finishing off each other's thoughts and laughing when Monjack called Brittany a "monkey." He had his arm around "mom" at one point--and don't forget they are still living together. If this was a film noir and not real life, the LAPD would be looking into whether the grieving mom and widower had a romantic relationship that preceded his quickie marriage to the "troubled starlet." Mom receives the starlet's entire estate, the controversy quiets down and the now-wealthy couple rides off into the sunset--without the troubled starlet to put up with.
joe/deed,
you took the words right out of my mouth. my jaw dropped several times while watching the interview last night. we all mourn differently...but this was bizarre behavior at times. simon's comments that she had a little laryngitis the day she died was amazing. i hate to cast doubt on people....but something doesn't add up with all of this.
I thought it was strange they were both living in the house together after her death. Hmmmm. Maybe time will tell. Thanks for the article.
Watching the Larry King interview the mom and widower were gushing and giggley with each other??? What's with that? So then when L.K. asks a probing question they act as if their sensibilities have been threatened?? So guarded and defensive yet their behavior was giddy and inviting of such questions. I had never even heard of Britney Murphy so had no predetermined views...a blank slate on the tragedy. I found myself wondering where are the detectives on this??? Trying to be politically correct always??? 32 years old people!!!!! It's like OJ Simpson...the police are waaay too easily intimadated by hollywood!
dave/joe,
i thought maybe it was "me" but i was in shock.
i wonder why the "news" media has not picked up on that bizarre behavior of those two. and why did Larry King say " i hope u two get some good news about the outcome, when Dr. Baden already gave his comments on the autopsy report." was LKL done before the results came out yesterday?
i plan to stay on this story....something doesn't add up here. as i noted earlier, there is no set way to mourn...but their behavior was a little beyond strange. i know he meant no harm...but simon's reference to his wife as a "little monkey" was in bad taste. apparently the mother inherits the entire estate according to reports. i just find it hard to believe that a 32-year-old woman collapses over flu-like conditions.
sorry....last comment was from me, not deed. as noted, i'll stay on this story.....something's fishy here.
dave i was reading your comment andthought, i dont remember writing this.!!! but i agree and did simon make that little monkey comment about Brittany being too clingie, cause i remember him
saying she was aways wanted love, etc. i must have missed that monkey comment and he was hard to understand... almost sounded like they were both on some drugs. jmho.
deed,
although i understand the reasoning behind the comment from simon about brittany being the clingy type, etc. i just thought the "monkey" reference he gave was in bad taste. some will say that being she was 32 years old, she's responsible for her own health and that is very true. that being said, you would think her hubby and mom would have noticed she wasn't doing well long before she collapses. medical care is available 24/7, 365 days a year, even in L.A.
yes, they were both acting strange. Her mother seemed drugged up and her husband is just creepy. Something about their story of that morning she died was really amiss...hmmm....and there were more than acouple comments he made about Brittany that I found very weird. Just weird things to say. Whatever isn't right about it, I hope it all comes out.
how much more obvious can you get from that interview -- it has to do with money.. i belive there is more to come
Had to watch the rerun of Larry King about poor Brittany Murphy. SOMEONE has to take her stoned out of her mind mother & laughin ex to task....They didn't even see L.K. was holding back..he is a pro. He saw through their lies & bull. Hope they will NOT get a cent of what SHE earned. Please hope the friends that did LOVE her come to her aid now!!!!!!
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