Marilyn Monroe mystery: Where are her FBI files?

At the Connecticut home of photographer Milton Green, Marilyn Monroe talked about being a model. / CBS Photo Archive

(AP) LOS ANGELES - Like many of the stars of her era, Marilyn Monroe's movements, relationships and comments weren't just devoured by fans — they were followed closely by the FBI.

Records kept on Monroe, many of which were filed under "Foreign Counterintelligence," have intrigued many who have sought to learn more about the film star, including those who investigated her death.

In connection with the 50th anniversary of Monroe's death on Aug. 5, The Associated Press has attempted under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the most complete record of the bureau's monitoring of Monroe.

Nearly nine months later — after several requests and an appeal — obtaining a more complete record of how the FBI investigated Monroe in the months before she died have been stymied by an effort to simply find the files.

The FBI says it no longer has the files it compiled on Monroe; the National Archives — the usual destination for such material — says it doesn't have them either.

Finding out precisely when the records were moved — as the FBI says has happened — required the filing of yet another, still-pending Freedom of Information Act request.

The most recent version of the files, all heavily redacted, is publicly available on the bureau's website, The Vault, which periodically posts FBI records on celebrities, government officials, spies and criminals.

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Marilyn Monroe

The AP appealed the FBI's continued censorship of its Monroe files, noting the agency has not given "any legal or factual analysis of the foreseeable harm that might result from the release of the full records."

Monroe's star power and fears she might be recruited by the Communist Party during the tenure of longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover led to reports being taken on her activities and relationships, including her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller.

Monroe's file begins in 1955 and mostly focuses on her travels and associations, searching for signs of leftist views and possible ties to communism. The file continues up until the months before her death, and also includes several news stories and references to Norman Mailer's biography of the actress, which focused on questions about whether Monroe was killed by the government.

There have been two major government investigations into Monroe's demise — the original inquiry immediately after her death and another effort by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office in 1982. The second inquiry, released in December 1982, reviewed all files available investigative reports, including files compiled by the FBI on her death. The records, the DA's office noted, were "heavily censored."

That mention intrigued the man who performed Monroe's autopsy, Dr. Thomas Noguchi. While the DA investigation concluded he conducted a thorough autopsy, Noguchi has conceded that no one will likely ever know all the details of Monroe's death. The FBI files and confidential interviews conducted with the actress' friends that have never been made public might help, he wrote in his 1983 memoir "Coroner."

"On the basis of my own involvement in the case, beginning with the autopsy, I would call Monroe's suicide `very probable,"' Noguchi wrote. "But I also believe that until the complete FBI files are made public and the notes and interviews of the suicide panel released, controversy will continue to swirl around her death."

[hamiltongrad]

Who says that she really is dead ? Just saying.

[formerlyluvnut]

Bottom line is this; who cares? She was just a "hollywood" ho. Not even pretty in my opinion.

[monroefan2012]

Don't really care about your opinion!!!

[jamesellis2]

Marilyn knew that Kennedy was murdered, and not by Oswald (his rifle was never fired) but by mafia hit men such as James Files (Google James Files to see his interview). Kennedy was murdered because he denied approving the Federal Reserve Bank (Rockefeller) and he decided retreated from the Bay of Pigs. Marilyn was murdered too.

[monroefan2012]

Really Marilyn knew that Kennedy was murdered, that's funny since she was murdered in 1962 and Kennedy was killed in 1963!!

[mjlewis6]

It is worth noting that J Edgar Hoover DIED during the Richard Nixon Administration and all files that were at the Hoover residence were removed and DISAPPEARED immediately after his death.

There has been NO LISTING of files that were in his possession at home, and no other Agent or Administrative Head has had such authority to maintain files at their residence without a paper/electronic custody signout since that time. CIA and NSA were
not involved in that removal and politics aside, the authority that moved them could only involve FBI and Justice Dept.

Just a matter of names of department at that time and also checking DC Police Records to determine who was in charge in the vicinity at the time.

With Kennedy names, organized crime figure Sam Giancana in the background and other notable attached political/government names around Norma Jean...the original records may reflect a who's who of culpable persons for a conspiracy around the Kennedy Assassinations.

[mjlewis6]

And the guy at the top of the list was J. Edgar Hoover with Tolson who spent the weekend after November 22nd at the racetrack in Wheeling, West Virginia. No interruption in his lifestyle and associates at the track who held his chits and paid his gambling debts.

[devilruder]

Read the book "Double Cross" written by the brother and godson of the notorious Chicago gangster Sam Giancana. The book describes in detail the relationship between Giancana, the Kennedys,Peter Lawford, Marilyn Monroe, and the McGuire Sisters. The book is a tome, but it is action-packed and reads quickly.

[devilruder]

You must read the book "Doublecross" by the brother and godson of the notorious Chicago gangster Sam Giancana. This book tells all with regard to the relationship between the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, and Sam Giancana (his girl friend was one of the McGuire Sisters - Phyllis?). This book is a tome, but it is a fast-moving, action-oriented book and goes quickly.

[devilruder]

You must read the book "Doublecross" by the brother and godson of the notorious Chicago gangster Sam Giancana. This book tells all with regard to the relationship between the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, and Sam Giancana (his girl friend was one of the McGuire Sisters - Phyllis?). This book is a tome, but it is a fast-moving, action-oriented book and goes quickly.

[Rodeo_Joe]

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! - the Govt.
What a crock.

And ya wonder why she had "leftist views".
Anybody who still has a pulse has "leftist views".

[bjmou]

she screwed 2 of the kennedys and the feds thought maybe there was too much pillow talk going on. after the second kennedy blew her off she said she was going to hold a press conference....everyone knows that never came about

[pammmmmm]

Why does this woman's death always swirl with suspicion? I guess there is just too many loose ends.

[sturrsturr]

Because it could never be solved? I'm a little surprised that it's still so popular after 50 years