Efforts To Find Reason For Death

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29894, 7 August 1962, Page 15

Efforts To Find Reason For Death

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LOS ANGELES, August 6

A psychiatrist and a psychologist delved into Marilyn Monroe’s life and personality in an effort to discover whether the blonde actress committed suicide or died accidental!}’.

She was found dead in her Spanish-atyle bungalow in the early hours of Sunday morning The Los Angeles County Coroner. Dr. Theodore K Curphey. ordered an autopsy which was conducted yesterday by Dr Tsuetomi Noguchi a pathologist. Dr. Curphey said his presumptive opinion was that the actress died from an overdose of drugs, but it was not apparent whether they were taken accidentally or intentionally From her external physical appearance it appeared she had been ill for a long time, he said No notes were found According to friends, the actress had been depressed about her movie career afiei two recent "flops" and being dismissed from "Something's Got To Give" for too many a bsences Tile Coroner's "suicide tram." which makes the investigations. consists of Dr Robert Littman, a nsvhiatrist and Dr Norman Farberow. a psychologist Both are members of the Coroner's medical staff Dr Farberow is tne author ot several books and case studies on motives and methods of suicides Drs Littman and Farberow will make a psychiatric r. oproach to the case." Dr Curphey said "This will involve their delving into Miss Monroe's personal history I am particularly interested in investigating cases that on the surface might appear to be suicide "When our studies are completed I feel cer ain wc will be able to make a final determination as to the 'vpe of •his death. "It will orobably be a week before Drs L'ttman and Farberow finish their studies H jwever. results of toxicological and microscopic examinations of the blood and vital organs in this case should be available in 48 hours.” Dr Curphey said Miss Monroe w-as tucked under the sheets The telephone receiver was still c'utehed in her hand. An empty bottle of sleeping pills was on the beds ! de 'able Rang Psychiatrist Shortly before retiring on Saturday evening at 8 P m rod wishing her housekeeper cvxin’ght sh<* 'eienhoned her svehiMrist. Dr Rxlnh Greenson. complaining she could not sleep He advised her to go for a fl've bv the sea S-e never did. Her housekeeper. Mr* Kunice Murray, called Dr

Greenson when she saw a light on under her mistress's door about 3 a.m. but got no answer when she knocked Dr Greenson called another doctor and together they broke in through a window They found the actress dead Her lawyer Mr Milton Rudin. said that he had snoken to Miss Monroe on Friday and had discussed a meetina for Monday Mr Rud n said: ’She seemed in good spirits Naturally she felt very bad that she was not able to finish the movie. ‘Something's Got to Give' We were s'ill negotiating to resume the picture, and she was happy about that possibility" Miss Monroe was born Norma Jean Biker. an illegitimate child, the daughter of a film cutter named Gladys Baker and a Danish mmigrant. who dropped out of sigh' before Marilyn was born He was said to have been killed in a motor-cycle crash in Ohio in 1926 Marilyn’s mother spent much of her life in mental institutions Marilyn herself was boarded in a series of foster homes, where her suardians ranged from strict puritans who threatened her f she ever smoked, danced or swore to a drink-addicted English aetor who introduced her to riotous living In spite of her subsequen' success she remained an unhappy person and found fame j burden Shortly before her death at 36 she wrote: "Everybody is always tugging at vou Thev'd all like ■•or* of a chunk of vou They kind of I'ke to take nieces out of you It's like 'Grrr do this.' and 'Grrr do that,'"