The Death of Marilyn Monroe by Alyse Delcambre

            On August 5, 1962, after many failed attempts to communicate with Marilyn Monroe through her bedroom door, an innocent house keeper, Eunice Murray, and psychiatrist, Ralph Greeson, kicked the barrier down and discovered her lifeless corpse lying face-down next to a scattered bottle of pills (Vultaggio). Eunice Murray explained “I was alarmed,” after noticing a telephone wire outside the door that was plugged in down the hall. Marilyn normally disconnected the phone at night so, as a result, Murray called Ralph Greenson who began to analyze Marilyn’s mechanism of injury that could have caused her death. (Youtube). A series of strange coincidences and lack of evidence have raised questions on how the famous American sex symbol actually died. However, to the disappointment of the unreasonably suspicious conspirators, the most logical explanation rejects dramatic fabrications of murder and suicide and confirms a more realistic resolution of accidental demise.

 

            Even after 50 years, Marilyn Monroe remains a provocative, glamorous icon among her fans and could still be considered one of America’s most famous blondes. However, Marilyn was also known for having a very unsteady, troubled life. Her stardom emerged on accident when she came across David Conover who recognized her talent when he photographed her for an assignment he was doing about women in the war effort (Dole 3). Infatuated by her new home on camera, Monroe pursued sexier pin-up characters where she began to build her promiscuous reputation. Her life became a series of scandalous, front-page rumors, drug use, and affairs, one of which involved President John F. Kennedy. However, her carefree, vivacious personality on camera far from emulated her hopeless childhood in and out of foster homes and orphanages (Dole 2). Her abusive drug use possibly derived from the constant anxiety and internal conflict she suffered as a child by fearing her genetic fate of mental instability and desperately needing her absent, deadbeat father (Dole 1,2). The downward spirals continued with external conflict including unbelieved stories of sexual molestation by her step-father that could have resulted in her sexual confusion and aggression as an adult (Dole 2). Therefore, it is safe to say that Monroe’s questionable behavior is simply a misunderstood product of her constant, early misfortune.
           Marilyn Monroe’s sudden death has raised many questions regarding what exactly caused her demise. The first and most popular theory suggests that Monroe was secretly murdered by the Kennedys. After her death, Peter Lawford explained, “Bobby Kennedy was determined to shut her up, regardless of the consequences” (Howe).  Conspirators that believe in the murder argue that Monroe was harboring many secrets in a little red diary and was threatening to use them against the Kennedys. Apparently, after many sexual encounters with Marilyn, John F. Kennedy expressed to her that he had plans to leave his wife and make her the new First Lady. However, Marilyn soon realized that Kennedy’s promises were simply false fantasies that Kennedy never intended to carry out and Marilyn began to seek revenge by spilling information about their family. These secrets included her affairs with Robert, Bobby, and John F. Kennedy and other scandalous information that could be potentially career-ending to them if exposed (History.com). Additionally, years after Marilyn’s death, a phone call between Greeson and an investigator was released. When Ralph was questioned about Monroe’s demise, the psychiatrist responded, “Ask Bobby Kennedy,” revealing that he knows of the Kennedy’s taking part in her murder (Youtube). As a result, it is believed that the Kennedys ordered the murder of Marilyn Monroe in the effort of maintaining their honorable reputations. The murder was supposedly conducted through an enema that contained a strong dose of lethal chemicals like Nembutal and Choral hydrates which caused her to overdose and eventually die (Creighton).

            To this day, Monroe’s death is ruled a “probable suicide” (Welkos). Her unfortunate upbringing, constant fragile mental state, and previous suicide attempts make this theory appear very believable. In her last interview with LIFE Magazine, Marilyn expressed, “You see, I was brought up differently from the average American child because the average child is brought up expecting to be happy” (Dole). Marilyn already had a record for failed suicide attempts that many assume were dramatic stunts in order to draw desperately needed attention to unrevived career (www.smh.com.au). In addition, Marilyn suffered from severe insomnia, anxiety, and even had a history of depression. Eunice Murray mentioned in an interview with BBC, “This particular day, she was not lively and enthusiastic; she was very quiet” (Youtube). With the rollercoaster of events surrounding Monroe’s life and it would be easy for conspirators to believe that she simply got pushed over the edge and found suicide as her only outlet to escape all the chaos of Hollywood. But was her death really a fake suicide attempt gone awry or a product of her disappointing downfall? 
            Marilyn Monroe’s death was most likely caused by an accidental overdose from Nembutal and chloral hydrate which could have been provoked by a mixture of alcohol. Marilyn’s medically negligent doctor could have also contributed to her tragic death on accident by prescribing her with these drugs without properly conveying that mixing the two or taking too much of one substance could be heavily lethal. After all, Marilyn had an intense enjoyment for celebrating and spending time by getting unreasonably intoxicated with alcohol and barbiturates. Also, although Marilyn was known for having an emotionally unstable life, James Bacon, a close friend of Monroe explained, contradicting Murray’s report, “She wasn't the least bit depressed. She was in very good spirits that day - of course, the champagne and vodka helped.” (Welkos). It was also explained that Monroe’s career was beginning to get back on track with numerous acting and modeling opportunities. Many reports mention her positive change of attitude and levity due to the fact that she was finally settling down and even purchased her very first home. Bacon continued, “She was drinking champagne and straight vodka and occasionally popping a pill. I said, 'Marilyn, the combination of pills and alcohol will kill you.' And she said, 'It hasn't killed me yet.' Then she took another drink and popped another pill. I know at night she took barbiturates” (Welkos). Even Monroe’s housekeeper, Eunice Murray reported, “I wouldn’t, as a lament, describe her as depressed” (Youtube). Monroe’s naivety toward the dangers of medication and alcohol was lethal and very frequently expressed, therefore, Monroe’s demise could have been caused by accident and had nothing to do with emotional instability or depression.

            Decades after Marilyn Monroe’s death, her fan’s unwavering curiosity regarding her mechanism of injury remains unsatisfied. Although her demise was ruled as a probable suicide, breaches in evidence and inconsistent explanations lead investigators to be suspicious of the conspiracy theories that emerged and three of them tend to stand out to conspirators:

1.      Marilyn Monroe intentionally committed suicide by overdosing herself with lethal doses of barbiturates.

2.      Marilyn’s death was a result of the Kennedy’s fatal plot to kill her in order to keep their family secrets hidden.

3.      Marilyn’s death was simply a mere accident caused by her careless and excessive barbiturate drug use.

However, even though the most logical explanation confirms accidental demise, no one will surely know what happened to Monroe unless further evidence is presented. 

Works Cited

Creighton, Sam. "Marilyn Monroe Died as Result of 'medical Negligence' and Suffered from Bipolar Disorder, Claims New Documentary." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 13 May 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Secondary.

Dole, Susan. "Marilyn Monroe Marries Jim Dougherty." HowStuffWorks. 28 Aug. 2007. Web. 8 Oct. 2015. Tertiary and Secondary.

"Eunice Murray Talks About The Day Marilyn Monroe Died." Eunice Murray Talks About the Day Marilyn Monroe Died. YouTube, 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. Primary.

Howe, Caroline. "EXCLUSIVE - Bobby Kennedy Ordered Marilyn Monroe's Murder by Lethal Injection to Prevent Her from Revealing Her Torrid Affairs with RFK and JFK: New Book Sensationally Claims to Have Finally Solved the Mystery Surrounding Her Death." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 26 July 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Secondary.

Mallia, Daniel. "How Did Marilyn Monroe Die?" History News Network. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. Secondary.

"Marilyn Monroe - Dr Ralph Greenson in Secretly Taped Phone Conversation." YouTube. YouTube, 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. Primary.

"Marilyn Monroe Is Found Dead." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Secondary.

Vultaggio, Maria. Marilyn Monroe Death Conspiracy Theories: How Did Norma Jean Die?. International Business Times, 7 Sept 2015. Web. Secondary.

Welkos, Robert W. "New Chapter in the Mystery of Marilyn: Her Own Words?" Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2005. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Primary.

"Www.smh.com.au." FBI File Links Kennedy to Monroe's Death. The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 Mar. 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Secondary.

"Eunice Murray Talks About The Day Marilyn Monroe Died." Eunice Murray Talks About the Day Marilyn Monroe Died. YouTube, 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. Primary.