Brittany Murphy Murdered? Father Posits New Theory of Poisoning
Brittany Murphy died in 2009 of "natural causes," according to a medical examiner. However, her father now believes that she was poisoned, raising questions about the 32-year-old's death.
Angelo Bertolotti, Murphy's father, collected samples of her hair and blood when she died and had an independent lab run toxicology tests on them to satisfy his own questions about her death. The medical examiner's report listed pneumonia and anemia as her cause of death, but Bertolotti was apparently not convinced and wanted his own tests run.
"Ten (10) of the heavy metals evaluated were detected at levels higher than the WHO [The World Health Organization] high levels. Testing the hair strand sample identified as 'back of the head' we have detected ten (10) heavy metals at levels above the WHO high levels recommendation," the report from the Carlson Company in Colorado stated, according to the Examiner.
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However, the report did not state whether those levels were high enough to cause death or how they may have come in contact with Murphy's body. It also failed to name specifically what heavy metals were found on the hair follicle.
Bertolotti told the Examiner that Murphy "was neither anorexic nor a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied. Brittany and [husband] Simon were ridiculed by The Hollywood Reporter, when they complained of being under surveillance and in fear for their lives. I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany."
Given the length of time since Murphy's death, it is possible that there was interference and the follicle compromised between the time of her death and the lab tests. Friends reported that Murphy and husband Simon Monjack were both sick at the times of their deaths and exhibiting symptoms consistent with pneumonia before dying.
Monjack and Murphy died within months of one another, and the cause of death was the same for both: pneumonia and anemia, leading to intense speculation and theories that there may be a connection between the two. So far, though, no association has been made, though several theories, including this latest of poisoning, have emerged.
