When Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in 1962, it was ruled a probable suicide by authorities. The 36 year old star of films like “The Misfits” and “Some Like it Hot” had a history of mental illness and substance abuse, and her body was surrounded by pills. However, conspiracy theories about her death have swirled ever since.
A note: Monroe’s purported relationship with the Kennedy family factors in almost all conspiracy theories about her death. She was famously rumored to be sleeping with President John F. Kennedy while alive. But later rumors claimed she was also having an affair with JFK’s younger brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
Theory 1: She was killed by Robert Kennedy to cover up their affair
First advanced by right wing crackpot Frank A. Capell in 1964, the theory states that Monroe was indeed sleeping with Robert Kennedy, but got too attached, and he had her murdered to protect his career. Capell also accused the Kennedys and several other people who knew Monroe of being communist spies, so…
Theory 2: She was killed by Robert Kennedy for knowing too much
First advanced by rock journalist Anthony Scaduto in his 1975 book “Who Killed Marilyn Monroe”, the theory claims Monroe was kept a diary filled with incriminating information she overheard from the Kennedys, and Robert Kennedy had her killed when he found out. The theory also managed to shoehorn notorious union leader and Kennedy foe Jimmy Hoffa.
Theory 3: She wasn’t killed by Robert Kennedy, but he staged her death as a suicide
Tabloid journalist Anthony Summers advanced this convoluted theory in his 1985 book ”Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe.” Summers claimed first that after Robert Kennedy broke off their affair, Monroe threatened to go public. Supposedly Kennedy and his then-Brother in law Peter Lawford tried to prevent by enabling her growing drug and alcohol addiction. Summers claims Monroe accidentally OD’d, but died on the way to the hospital, so Lawford, Kennedy, and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover staged her death as a suicide.
Theory 4: She was killed by the CIA to hurt the Kennedys
In the book “Victim: The Secret Tapes of Marilyn Monroe,” Matthew Smith claims that the CIA knew Monroe and Robert Kennedy were having an affair, and killed her to get back at the Kennedy family for the Bay of Pigs invasion disaster.
Theory 5: She was killed by the Mafia to hurt the Kennedys
The book “Double Cross” claims that Monroe was actually murdered on the orders of Chicago mafia boss Sam Giancana. According to authors Chuck and Sam Giancana (Sam’s brother and godson), she was killed to make Robert Kennedy back off his crusade against the mob.
Theory 6: It was a cover-up by her doctors
No Kennedys this time. Donald Spoto claimed in his 1993 book “Marilyn Monroe: The Biography,” that her death was an accidental overdose which happened because Monroe lied to her two doctors about the amount of medication she’d been prescribed. Afraid of the possible consequences, said Spoto, the doctors staged Monroe’s death as a suicide with the help of her housekeeper.
Theory 7: She was going to expose the truth behind UFOs
The latest one to emerge — courtesy of Gizmodo — is probably the strangest. Dr. Steven Greer, the subject of the documentary “Unacknowledged,” claims that Monroe was killed by the government because she was threatening to leak classified information about extraterrestrials. Cool story.
