Tuesday evening update:
Notes written by an investigator from the L.A. County Coroner's office provide new details in the ongoing investigation into Brittany Murphy's shocking death. Of particular note is the large number of strong prescription medication found in the actress' bedroom.
As TMZ reports, notes written by Investigator Blacklock mention that the actress had complained of "shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain" for 7 to 10 days prior to her death on Sunday morning.
Paramedics found a series of prescription drugs on the nightstand in the master bedroom. The medicine bottle were in Murphy's name, the name of her husband, Simon Monjack, her mother, Sharon Murphy, and an unidentified third party.
According to the notes, the medications included Topamax (anti-seizure meds also to prevent migraines), Ativan (anxiety med), Biaxin (antibiotic), Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory), Fluoxetine (depression medication), Klonopin (anxiety med), Carbamazepine (treats Diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar medication), Vicoprofen (pain reliever), Propranolol (hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks), and Hydrocodone (pain medication).
Monday evening update:
Brittany Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, spoke to "Access Hollywood" on Monday afternoon about his wife's surprising death. He said that his wife had been ill recently and was suffering from laryngitis.
"My world was destroyed yesterday," Monjack told the show.
Monjack revealed that Murphy was found unresponsive in the shower by her mother, after having "a regular day."
"[Her mother] Sharon went into the bathroom because she had been in there a long time. Her mom screamed for me and I ran. Then called 911," Monjack said.
Monday afternoon update:
Coroners completed the autopsy of actress Brittany Murphy on Monday, but it will take about six weeks for results, assistant chief coroner Ed Winter told TheWrap. There were no signs of foul play, but the cause of death will not be determined until toxicology reports are finalized.
Meanwhile, TMZ is reporting that Murphy had a will when she died. The will was executed, it reports, before her marriage to Simon Monjack, and the actress left her estate to her mother, Sharon Murphy.
Monday morning update:
Actress Brittany Murphy's autopsy began about 10 a.m., assistant chief coroner Ed Winter told TheWrap. He said Murphy's celebrity status had no bearing on the speed of her autopsy. "We take them as they come in," Winter said.
Autopsy reports typically take about a month to six weeks to be made public. "We usually don't make public preliminary findings," Winter said, "unless there's something special about the death, like a bullet wound. But there was no sign of trauma here."
Winter did say that prescription medications were found at her home, but "we have not been able to talk to her physician to find out her medication history." He said his office could not say yet whether controlled substances also were discovered.
He also says that Murphy's family told his office the actress had been ill for several days with "flu-like symptoms" and that she possibly suffered from a diabetic condition.
TMZ is reporting that a large number of various legal prescriptions were found, written not just for Murphy but for her husband and mother.
