Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy’s husband and mother were questioned by coroners at their home yesterday (03.02.10).

The late ‘Clueless’ actress’ spouse Simon Monjack and her mum Sharon Murphy – who lived with the couple in Los Angeles – were visited by Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter and queried about the circumstances surrounding the 32-year-old star’s death on December 20.

Leaving the building, he told TMZ: “The investigation is continuing. The family is very cooperative and we will continue with our investigation.

“They were able to fill in some questions that we had involving the case. But I really can’t comment on it.

“We actually interviewed them together.”

Brittany is believed to have died from a suspected cardiac arrest, but her death certificate lists the cause of her death as “deferred” and the manner of death as “pending investigation”.

Following her passing, there has been much speculation about Brittany’s use of prescription drugs and weight issues.

Ten different types of medication were confiscated from her bedroom after she was found collapsed in the shower.

It is believed the coroner paid the pair a visit to find out more information after being unsatisfied the toxicology report – which has not yet been released – told the full story.

This news comes shortly after it was claimed the coroners had been warned prescription medications used to arrive at the property every week, addressed to someone called ‘Lola’.

The gossip website reports: “Sources tell TMZ a man who worked at Brittany Murphy’s house has told the Coroner’s Office that someone would deliver a sealed, manila envelope to the house every Friday filled with prescription medications in bottles. The name on the envelope – ‘Lola.’

“The ex-employee told the coroner drugs were also mailed from Los Angeles to Louisiana – where Brittany was shooting a movie and Simon was tagging along – in the months before she died.”

The official cause of death is due to be announced shortly, when toxicology test results come back and the autopsy report will be released.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The late ‘Clueless’ actress – who died on Sunday (20.12.09) after suffering a cardiac arrest, aged just 32 – will be buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles this evening, but her estranged father, Angelo Bertolotti, won’t be present because he doesn’t want to see her dead body.

He said: “I was very shocked by her death. I can’t believe it really. It happened so fast, I’m just trying to figure it all out right now. I’m very upset by it.

“If I wanted to go to the funeral I would go, but I don’t want to see her that way. She was flawless to me. She was a little bright child. I have only good memories about her. She’s a memory to me now. To me she’s off making a movie somewhere.”

Angelo hadn’t spoken to his daughter for over a year and never met her British screenwriter husband Simon Monjack – who she wed in 2007 following a whirlwind romance.

Since she died, there has been much speculation about Brittany’s use of prescription drugs and weight issues.

Ten different types of medication were confiscated from her bedroom after she was found collapsed in the shower of her Los Angeles home at the weekend.

However, Angelo, 83, is certain the actress was well and not suffering from any serious medical conditions.

He told ‘E!’: “She had a couple of issues but nothing was that serious. Her mother Sharon never told me anything like that. She never said she had anything like was listed in the papers.”

The list of drugs taken by investigators included anxiety pills, painkillers and depression tablets.

Brittany’s ceremony at the Hollywood cemetery – which is where the late ‘Thriller’ singer Michael Jackson was laid to rest earlier this year – is set to be a “strictly private” event.

Source: BANG Showbiz

British screenwriter Simon Monjack will be one of several people questioned as authorities try to determine how the actress died from cardiac arrest on Sunday (20.12.09), aged just 32.

Simon – who reportedly tried to stop the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office from performing an autopsy on Brittany’s body yesterday (21.12.09) – previously said he has been “destroyed” by her passing.

Meanwhile, friends of the couple – who wed in 2007 after a whirlwind romance – have spoken out about their concerns surrounding their relationship and their belief he is riddled with huge debts.

It has been reported a 2006 court judgment for £293,000 was made against him by the prestigious Coutts and Company bank, and it is claimed he was evicted from his New York flat in 2005 after failing to pay £5,000 in rent.

US website Gawker has reported there are two outstanding warrants for his arrest in Virginia for alleged fraud and credit card theft and other media outlets claim he was arrested by customs agents in April 2007 for overstaying his work visa.

Simon said: “Like all businessmen, I have faced many lawsuits. It is a real tragedy that success, greed, envy and celebrity are the motivation for attacking my family and character.”

Meanwhile, ‘Clueless’ director Amy Heckerline has added to speculation Brittany suffered from anorexia – after revealing she felt under pressure to be a “skinny, pretty girl”.

Amy told Scott Feinberg’s AndTheWinnerIs.blog.com: “You know, everybody’s shaking their heads and going ‘drugs,’ of course… She seemed to go through a change, you know, on ‘Clueless.’ Maybe she felt like she was not the, like, skinny, pretty girl, you know?

“And then the next few movies she was thinner, blonde, at MTV Awards and all sorts of things like that, and going out with Eminem and Ashton Kutcher.

“I think she felt the pressure to become a different sort of commodity to survive in show business, and I think it was awful.”

The autopsy on her body was completed yesterday (21.12.09) but results will not be announced until toxicology and neurological tests come back during the next six weeks.

Since her passing, a number of prescription drugs have been confiscated from Brittany’s home.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The late ‘Clueless’ actress’ spouse, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, has spoken out about his beloved wife – who died of a cardiac arrest at her Los Angeles home aged just 32 on Sunday (20.12.09) – and his devastation at her passing.

He said: “My world was destroyed yesterday.”

Simon also revealed life had been normal for the pair until she was found collapsed in the shower surrounded by her own vomit, although Brittany had been suffering from a sore throat recently.

Recalling how her lifeless body was discovered, he explained to ‘Access Hollywood’: “Her mother Sharon went into the bathroom because she had been in there a long time. Her mom screamed for me and I ran. Then I called 911.

“She had laryngitis. She had been tired at the end of the year. She had made a couple of movies.”

Simon has also denied rumours Brittany had been mixing with “controlling” people.

He explained: “I don’t know why anyone would think that. She found love. We found love. Brittany didn’t get to where Brittany was with anyone controlling her… Brittany was Brittany.”

Simon also praised his wife’s ex-boyfriend Ashton Kutcher’s moving tribute to the actress.

He added: “I loved what Ashton Kutcher wrote on twitter. It was comforting to me. I couldn’t have said it better.”

Ashton had previously written: “2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, and her amazing mother Sharon. see you on the other side kid.”

Following the actress’ death, it was reported Simon didn’t want Brittany to have an autopsy – which was completed yesterday (21.12.09).

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is waiting for the results of toxicology tests before they release the autopsy report.

Yesterday (21.12.09), Los Angeles chief coroner Ed Winter – who investigated into the death of pop star Michael Jackson – insisted the autopsy concluded her passing was not caused by drugs.

The toxicology and neurological results are expected to take up to six weeks to come back.

In notes written by the Investigator Blacklock from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, Brittany’s bedroom was filled with “large amounts” of tablets and empty pill packets.

The document stated: “A check of the nightstands revealed large amounts of prescription medication in the decedent’s name. Also noted were numerous empty prescription medication bottles in the decedent’s husband’s name, the decedent’s mother’s name and unidentified third party names.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Alicia starred in 1995 movie ‘Clueless’ with Brittany – who died of a cardiac arrest at her Los Angeles home aged just 32 – and says while they “didn’t stay in close touch over the years” she’ll always feel love for her.

She said: “I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together. I feel love in my heart for her – and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad.

“I loved working with Brittany. She was so talented, so warm and so sweet.”

Another one of Brittany’s co-stars, Mena Suvari, paid tribute to her after getting to know her when they worked on 2002 film ‘Spun’.

She tweeted: “I’m just sooo devastated now. Found out Brittany Murphy died earlier this morning + I’m shocked. We worked together + I knew her for yrs.

“And ALL my love to her family and friends. May God be with you in this difficult time. (sic)”

Lindsay Lohan also posted a message after the sad news broke.

She wrote: “My deepest condonlences (sic) go out to all of Brittany Murphy’s loved ones, may she rest in peace… She was a great talent w/a (sic) beautiful soul xo.”

Although she never worked with Brittany, Jessica Simpson spoke of her sadness at the untimely death.

She tweeted: “Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘8 Mile’ actress passed away at the age of 32 yesterday morning (20.12.09) but authorities have already ruled out foul play, despite persistent rumours she was addicted to prescription drugs.

Coroner’s Captain John Kades said: “Foul play is not suspected at this time because there were no outward signs of trauma or other injuries.

“We don’t have an autopsy scheduled yet, but we will do it as soon as possible. Given all the worldwide attention, if we can get it done today (21.12.09), we will.”

However, sources say several prescriptions were found in the house, written for various members of the household including Brittany – who reportedly suffered from diabetes – husband Simon Monjack and the actress’ mother.

One source said: “There were a lot of prescriptions in the house.”

Insiders say the actress had been suffering from flu-like symptoms for days – which she was taking medication for – and had begun vomiting shortly before her death, telling her family she felt “very unwell”.

According to reports, when her mother found her body in the bathroom of her Hollywood home, there was “a significant amount of vomit” in the room.

One of the ‘Clueless’ star’s neighbours said paramedics were in the house for almost an hour before taking her body to an ambulance on a stretcher.

The onlooker said “One paramedic was still working on her. First, I couldn’t even tell that it was Brittany that was on the stretcher. I looked like an older woman. Brittany was completely white and her face was covered with a mask. You could tell that something horrible had happened.”

Police later attended the house for what they have described as a “routine” death investigation.

In addition to the autopsy, toxicology tests to look for traces of drugs and alcohol in Brittany’s system will also be carried out, but the results will not be known for six weeks.

The actress’ family have released a statement about the “terrible tragedy”.

It read: “The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy. She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star. We ask you to respect our privacy at this time.”

Brittany’s estranged father, Angelo Bertolotti – who hadn’t seen the actress in several years – also paid tribute to her.

He said: “She was just an absolute doll since she was born… Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her.

“She was just so talented. I loved her very much.”

Source: BANG Showbiz