Brittany Murphy, best known for her roles in Clueless, Girl Interrupted and 8 Mile, died aged 32 on December 20, 2009.
Following her death, speculation surrounded the star with all kinds of theories stemming from poisoning, to drugs, to murder – but ultimately, the autopsy report stated that she had died after contracting a bug.
Her loved ones and fans alike were devastated by the news that the actress had tragically died from a preventable cause, which she started showing symptoms of 10 days before her death.
Daily Star has looked into the autopsy of the famous actress, who would have been turning 44 today.
Last words
(Image: REUTERS)
Brittany’s symptoms rapidly developed overnight after the actress had been complaining about abdominal pain over a week prior.
She developed flu-like symptoms and woke in a panic at 3am on the morning of her death gasping for breath as her lips turned blue.
Her mum Sharon recalled to the Hollywood Reporter that Brittany was laying on the balcony of her home as she tried to catch her breath once again.
(Image: FilmMagic, Inc)
She said: “I said, ‘Baby, get up.’, she said: ‘Mummy, I can’t catch my breath. Help me. Help me.”
Her husband Simon added: “She said to her mum, ‘I’m dying. I’m going to die. Mummy, I love you.'”
Brittany eventually got herself to the bathroom at 7:30am and closed the door, but 30 minutes later, her mum found her unconscious and she was later pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at around 10am.
Pills
(Image: FilmMagic)
Brittany, who was feeling unwell during the lead-up to her death, had taken multiple legal prescription meds on the day she died.
She was reportedly suffering with painful menstruation for the second time that month, which had caused severe anemia and resulted in chronic iron deficiency, making her more vulnerable to possible side-effects from her medication.
On the day of her death, she had taken antidepressant drug Prozac; anti-seizure drug Klonopin; the anti-inflammatory methylprednisolone; a beta blocker; hydrocodone; acetaminophen and Vicoprofen for relief from period pain.
Her red blood count at that point was at a quarter of the normal amount, which put her in a “weakened state of health [that] would increase her vulnerability to infection”, the autopsy report stated.
Sick rumours
(Image: PA)
Sick rumours surrounded Brittany Murphy’s death, with dark theories escalating in the years that followed.
Brittany’s half brother Tony Bertolotti shared theories over the years, adding that their father Angelo was “chasing the truth” until he died aged 92.
Speculation included rumours that her death had been caused by drug abuse, poisoning and murder – but an autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner ruled out all speculation and stated that no illegal drugs were found in her system.
Holiday bug
(Image: CBS via Getty Images)
Brittany began complaining of severe abdominal pain 10 days prior to her death, with the actress eventually experiencing flu-like symptoms.
When an investigation was launched by the coroner, it was revealed that she had picked up a bug – Staphylococcus aureus – during a visit to Puerto Rico, with both her mum and her husband falling sick after the trip, while Brittany was fine.
Once they recovered, Brittany developed pneumonia, and because of her painful and heavy periods, she was also suffering severe anemia and eventually look medication to reduce the pain.
Ultimately, her death was ruled as accidental.
Preventable death
(Image: REUTERS)
Although her death was ruled as accidental, the coroner Ed Winter believes it could have been prevented with medical treatment.
He told the Hollywood Reporter: “She had been sick at least two weeks. Had they taken her to a doctor or hospital, it would have been treatable.”
The combination of the pneumonia and anemia sadly contributed to her cause of death on December 20, 2009.
Husband’s death
Brittany’s husband Simon Monjack died months after her, with his death also ruled as pneumonia according to a Los Angeles County Coroner’s report.
He died on May 23, 2010.
He left behind two children with his ex-wife Simone Bienne, who he married in 2001.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
