Murphy's Husband Calls Drug Rumors "Crazy"

(CBS)  Brittany Murphy's husband is crying foul on speculation that his wife died from a drug overdose or that she had an eating disorder.

British screenwriter Simon Monjack told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday that rumors of drug use and anorexia are "crazy" and that he is "devastated" by the death of the 32-year-old actress.

"These rumors that she was anorexic? It's crazy - she was slim, but that was her natural physique," Monjack told the magazine. "This is what's killing all of us. How did it happen? Her mum, myself and her family - we want to know why we lost our baby."

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Monjack also said that he hasn't slept since his mother-in-law found Murphy collapsed in the bathroom on Sunday, and explains why he initially opposed an autopsy on his wife.

"My initial reaction to the autopsy was - they're going to cut her open - I couldn't bear it," he said. "But we realized we needed to know. I look forward to getting the results."

When asked by the magazine if a drug overdose was a possible cause of death, Monjack replied, "I can get rid of that one right now."

An autopsy was conducted Monday by the Los Angeles County coroner office. It said there was no evidence of trauma to Murphy's body and that it would defer releasing a cause of death until after toxicology tests are complete.

However, a < link=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/22/entertainment/main6010504.shtml>leaked copy of the autopsy findings surfaced on TMZ.com. TMZ's report stated the investigator, who is identified only by last name, noted numerous bottles of prescription medications were found in Murphy's name at the Hollywood Hills home.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Tuesday that he doesn't know how the Web site apparently obtained the confidential report and that he couldn't confirm details about the TMZ story because he hadn't yet seen the form that lists the medications taken from Murphy's home.

The 32-year-old star of films such as "Clueless" and "8 Mile" died after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. Paramedics found the actress in cardiac arrest and tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Murphy's family said that the actress was ill with flu-like symptoms in the days before her death and prescription medications were taken from her home, according to the coroner's office.

In the interview with People magazine, Monjack said that Murphy, whom he married in 2007, suffered from a heart murmur which can cause fatigue, dizziness and irregular heartbeats, but added that it is generally not life-threatening and that she didn't require medication to treat it.

He also said that Murphy was ill the day before she died, resting in bed and suffering from laryngitis, which he said the actress treated with herbal tea, ginger and lemon.

"She was on herbal remedies that wouldn't speed up her heart," Monjack told the magazine. "There was nothing here that could endanger her; there was prescription medication in the house for her female time and some cough syrup. That was it."

On Tuesday, Dr. Cyril Wecht, a leading pathologist, told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez that while "it's possible" Murphy may have died of natural causes, he believes drugs were involved.

[baileyccc]

32 year olds just don't die of natural causes unless of course you consider synthetic prescription poisons natural means. Posted by Baileyccc

[DSR_57]

COCAIN ! ! !

[pensacola8-2009]

Several things can speed up the heart. Contaminated or polluted air, high altitude, moderate levels of ozone, asthma, allergy related chest cold or infection, stuffy or stale air, dirty air filter, elevated odor or aroma levels, hot roofing tar, engine exhaust, extra weight etc...

Millions of citizens experience rises in their cardiac rates upon passage of weather systems bringing in ozone from distant urban areas.

For most, it isn't a problem, but for some with heart or lung defects, it is major.

Some of us forget that high school students are dropping dead in their gym class or during sports events from undiagnosed heart defects.

[edgy44]

It's terribel that such a nice woman with a fantastic personality should die so young. I don't really care much about why she died at this point. I don't think anyone else should either. That's for the medical and law enforcement experts to work. Hopefully her body will provide doctors with new information that can help others. I suspect nothing, and have no favorite outcome except to help others in the future.

[erb0087]

Brittany Murphy's half brother (same father) said today that several of her relatives suffer from "Dysautonomia" (malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.) He and Brittany hadn't spoken to each other in years, for some reason, so he wasn't sure about her.

Decent people will giver her the benefit of the doubt until the autopsy results are in, in a few weeks.

Dr. Cyril Wecht disgraced himself by speculating wildly on TV this morning about "Hollywood celebrities" and their lifestyles, but he never even examined Brittany Murphy and obviously hasn't reviewed the autopsy report yet.

Perhaps he fancies himself a Hollywood celebrity as well.

[erb0087]

Her youthfulness made her death tragic. If someone like Sophia Loren had died, there would be great sadness but not the same feeling of tragedy and shock.

Sudden cardiac death (which I had been confusing with "heart attack") does strike people in Brittany Murphy's age group most frequently, according to WebMD: people in the mid-30 to mid-40 range. I think heart attacks generally strike people older than that. But anyone can die of these conditions at any age.

Every once is a while you read about an even younger athlete suddenly dying of cardiac arrest during a high school or college basketball or football game.

If you didn't know the person or his/her family, it's not a personal tragedy for you. I liked Brittany Murphy and thought she was a fine actress.

The autopsy should clear all this up.

[longtree-2009]

guess we will never know exactly what natural causes killed her. if the best science can determine is "natural causes" without an explicit definition of what it really is or means, then maybe time to get another team of scientists?

[sandy19731]

That's why they are doing the autopsy.

[PR_in_Alabama]

He is one ungly looking dude, for such a pretty gal...

[TyroneHoglegg]

Must be hung like a pony....

[confused2byu]

So if Dr. Cyril Wecht is wrong will people still continue to see him on the CBS The Early Show? Is he just another CBS Levi Johnson; sensationalism without substance. Wait speaking of which, where is good ole Levi? What is he up to these days Maggie? Guessing his spread in Playgirl wasn't as large as people were hoping.

[PatKelly79]

A woman that beautiful married that sketchball - she was definitely on drugs.

[northof62]

PatKelly79 - the trouble with blogs is that people say the first things on their minds with no filter for decency, compassion, intelligence or boundaries. You are a moron.