Brittany Murphy Death (Photos): Toxic Drug Combination Likely Killed Her, Expert Tells CBS

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

(AP/Gregg DeGuire, PictureGroup)

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) - Actress Brittany Murphy may have died the same way that Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, and Heath Ledger died - from a toxic combination of prescription drugs, which may or may not have been obtained legally, an expert pathologist told CBS News.

Photo: Brittany Murphy at Fashion Week, Feb. 5, 2008, in New York.

PICTURES: Brittany Murphy Dead at 32

Authorities said Monday it appeared Murphy, 32, died of natural causes on Dec. 20 after becoming ill with flu-like symptoms in the days before she collapsed in the bathroom of her Hollywood Hills home.

Celebrity site TMZ is reporting there were "large amounts of prescription medications" on the nightstand when paramedics arrived at her Hollywood home, and that Murphy was "complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain" in the week before she died.

"When you have a 32-year-old person dying suddenly, and especially a celebrity in Los Angeles, you can place your bet down that it's going prove to be a case of acute combined drug toxicity," pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht told CBS News' "The Early Show" Tuesday.

Photo: Brittany Murphy Dec. 1, 2009 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

PICTURES: Brittany Murphy Dead at 32

"I bet you that this young lady tragically died in the same way that Michael Jackson did, and Anna Nicole Smith, and her son, Daniel Smith, and Heath Ledger -- a combination of drugs that had been prescribed for her, prescribed for her husband, for her mother, in some fictitious names, probably by doctors who are very, very quick to make available anything that celebrities want, sometimes using knowingly fictitious names," Wecht said.

"So, even though these drugs are, quote, legal, unquote, they are, many times, illegally obtained. And it's a tragedy," Wecht said. "It's being played out everywhere in America every day, and we only come to know about it when it involves celebrities."

The coroner's report on Murphy's death has not been officially released, but on Tuesday, TMZ claimed to have viewed notes from an investigator from the L.A. County Coroner's office who worked on the case.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter says he doesn't know how the site apparently obtained parts of the confidential report. His office is now investigating.

According to TMZ, an investigator, who is only identified by last name, noted that numerous bottles of prescription medications were found in Murphy's name at the Hollywood Hills home where she collapsed Sunday.

Winter says he couldn't confirm details about the report because he hadn't yet seen the form that lists the medications taken from Murphy's home.

A full toxicology report is still pending.

MEDIA
PICTURES: Brittany Murphy Dead at 32

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
December 21, 2009 - Brittany Murphy Dead: Natural Causes to Blame, Says Coroner, But Police Are Investigating

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by hahaFunniestmanAlive July 28, 2010 6:33 PM EDT: haha, thats kinda funny.

-FunniestManAlive; Reply to this comment


by baileyccc December 25, 2009 4:51 PM EST: Of course she died of drugs side effects. No one is immune to Big Pharma's synthetic poisons. Posted by baileyccc; Reply to this comment


by jc338 December 25, 2009 11:52 AM EST: Are you kidding me? Doctors are very, very quick to prescribe medications to ANYONE, not just celebrities. All you have to do is tell them what you want and you'll get it. Until they stop getting cuts from the Pharmaceutical Companies who just want to sell drugs "legally" this will continue to happen and more and more people will die. It is way too easy to get medications from doctors.; Reply to this comment


by Marcos989 December 25, 2009 10:22 AM EST: What a waste if proven true. Anybody mixing & matching over the counter and/or prescription drugs is playing Russian roulette with their lives. If you respect your life consult a physician 1st. Or better yet, learn to live without self-medication when not prescribed.; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 December 25, 2009 12:40 AM EST: "Authorities said Monday it appeared Murphy, 32, died of natural causes on Dec. 20 after becoming ill with flu-like symptoms..."

H1N1 ?

It can't be ruled out.

10,000 Americans have died of it already.; Reply to this comment


by corbinman December 24, 2009 8:16 AM EST: ...and God bless you Cheryl Shuman....thank you...; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso21 December 23, 2009 6:58 PM EST: What a stupid doctor--no one warned him about libel? It is one thing to say it may have been a drug interacting with another drug or drug toxicity--it is a far other thing and libelous to state the person illegally obtained prescription drugs and died from them without the toxicology proof to back that up.

Shut yer mouth doc--and leave conjecture and blame to the coroner and the DA's office, before you have to call Miss Gloria to defend you.; Reply to this comment

by cherylshuman December 23, 2009 4:37 AM EST

I've known Brittany Murphy since I worked with her on Clueless and continued to be acquainted with her over the past several years. She is a lovely young woman, full of grace, kindness and was a ray of sunshine on every movie set or charity event that I've ever encountered with her. I'm deeply saddened and shocked by her death. I'm also angry at the insensitive comments left by some anonymous people accusing her of drug abuse. Brittany has had health issues in the past. Before everyone jumps to conclusions, can we just wait until the autopsy results are in? Can we please allow the family to grieve? Authorities agree that it "APPEARS" that she died of natural causes. I would ask that posters please show compassion. I would ask that people be respectful of the family, especially her fantastic mother, Sharon. My prayers go out to Brittany and her loved ones during this horrible tragedy.

God bless you Brittany, you are already tremendously loved and missed.

Respectfully,
Cheryl Shuman

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by brushwalker December 24, 2009 8:22 AM EST: Spoken like a true friend and fellow pot head go to CherylShuman.com and see for yourself


by Marcos989 December 25, 2009 10:36 AM EST: A 5 second search on this "good friend" indicates she is a phony, scumbag. Out for publicity. Hopefully Ms. Murphy had sufficient character not to actually be involved with her. Is this one of the low-lifes that is being alluded too, accused in influencing the destructive pill poppping? Sounds like it.
Sympathies to her husband, mother, extended family &n friends.
Be safe.