commentary by Patrick H. Moore
Like many dads, I watched a lot of movies with my daughter when she was young. She’s older now, however, and will barely talk to me much less watch movies with lame old Dad. In her earlier years, though, we had a lot of fun together watching the kids’ comedies she so adored. One of my favorites was “Clueless” in which Brittany Murphy (the subject of this post) played Alicia Silverstone’s tough-talking, heart-of-gold friend. I also saw Brittany later on in “Uptown Girl” with Dakota Fanning. Therefore, I was saddened in 2009 when I learned that Brittany had reportedlyly died of pneumonia. But it never quite added up. How can you die of pneumonia in Hollywood Hills at the age of 32?
Now, however, there are reports that the LA coroner’s office may have been wrong and that pneumonia may not have been the cause of the comic actress’s death. According to Raw Story, Brittany’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, fought for and secured the release of tissue samples and submitted them for an independent analysis at the Carlson Company, a lab in Colorado. The lab, which tested a hair strand sample reportedly obtained from the back of the film star’s head, stated in a repoert:
“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 continues, “If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals (toxins) administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent.”
The death by rat poison rumors that have been reported by some media outlets is apparently because one of the heavy metals found in Brittany’s hair sample was allegedly barium, which is apparently an ingredient of some rat poisons.
According to the New York Daily News, Brittany’s father stated on Monday upon receiving the lab report:
“The lab has shown that she was poisoned with criminal intent. We would like the investigation opened again to discover who did it. So as not to jeopardize the new investigation, I can’t say who I suspect as of yet.”
In another statement, Bertolotti told the Raw Story: “Vicious rumors, spread by tabloids, unfairly smeared Brittany’s reputation. My daughter was neither anorexic nor a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied … I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany.”
After his wife’s death, Brittany’s husband Simon Monjack, who strangely enough later also reportedly died of acute pneumonia and sever anemia, said he didn’t believe she died of natural causes. He thought foul play was involved, according to Radar Online, and spoke of someone “being out to get us.”
The Coroner’s autopsy conducted after Murphy’s death on December 20, 2009, however, suggests a far more mundane cause of death, stating that Murphy was suffering from “acute pneumonia consistent with a community-acquired infection. The “chronic iron deficiency, which was likely caused by heavy menstrual periods could have led to a weakened state of health which would have increased her vulnerability to infection.”
In addition, various drugs were found in the 32-year-old actress’s body, who was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after she was rushed there in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 20.
“Multiple medications were present in the blood, with elevated levels of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and chlorpheniramine. L-methamphetamine was also present.” The coroner said “the pattern of use of these medications suggest treatment of symptoms of a cold or other respiratory infection.”
“Acetaminophen and hydrocodone are components of Vicodin. Chlorpheniramine is the active ingredient in some over-the-counter medications. L-methamphetamine is a component of some inhalers.”
The report noted that all of the drugs are legal. The coroner’s report, however, ruled Murphy’s death an accident because “possible adverse physiological effects of elevated levels of these medications cannot be discounted, especially in her weakened state.”
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According to ABC News, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not agree with the Carlson Company’s methods and findings and objects to its logo being included in the report.
“WHO does not establish reference ranges for chemicals in hair, therefore, the ‘high values’ for the chemicals listed in the Carlson Company report are from some other source, and not from WHO, and the laboratory should provide accurate citation for the source or sources of these values,” said WHO scientist Joanna Tempowski, who works in the organization’s International Programme on Chemical Safety.
Tempowski explained that although WHO publishes guidelines for chemicals in food additives and drinking water, these chemicals are generally measured in blood and urine:
“Hair is not, however, a reliable material for the determination of exposure to many chemicals because it is prone to contamination from the external environment.”
Tempowski also said the Carlson Company does not have permission to use WHO’s logo.
According to ABC News, toxicologists also dismissed Carlson’s method of using hair samples. Bruce Goldberger, a toxicologist who directs UF Health Forensic Medicine at the University of Florida, said Murphy lacked the telltale sign of heavy metal poisoning when she died: lines across her fingernails. Goldberger explained that these lines, called Mees’ lines or leukonychia striata, are a key tool for diagnosing heavy metals poisoning:
“The bottom line is these hair test results cannot be used to support any allegation of poisoning, and cannot be used to establish a cause and manner of death.”
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Nonetheless, it is certainly strange that Simon Monjack also died of “acute pneumonia and severe anemia” six months after Brittany’s demise. Two months before his death, Simon — who was clearly very worried — revealed to Radar Online that he had 56 security cameras installed at his house. Monjack also advised that he had biometric door entries and a system that scrambles the phone lines in case someone was trying to record his conversations. Monjack told Radar that before his wife’s death, he and Brittany were both scared that someone was watching them and that they were in danger of someone “slipping them something.”
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This is one of the stranger stories I’ve come across lately. For one of them to die of pneumonia and severe anemia — well perhaps. But both of them succumbing to the same conditions within six months of each other seems seems like a stretch, particularly with excellent medical facilities at their beck and call. I might add that to the best of my knowledge, the testing of hair follicles to detect diseases is indicative of holistic diagnosis, and is probably not something the rather staid WHO would be likely to subscribe to.