Michael Bezjian/Getty Images Autopsy results for the Clueless star's screenwriter widower, Simon Monjack, reveal that he died of acute pneumonia and severe anemia—nearly the exact same cause of death as Murphy, E! News has learned.
Los Angeles Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter confirmed that while Monjack did have some legal medications in his system, he did not succumb to a prescription drug overdose or multiple drug intoxication; drugs were listed as a contributing factor in Murphy's death.
Additionally, the medical examiner ruled out heart disease as a contributing factor. Monjack had reportedly been experiencing heart problems before his lifeless body was found on May 23 in the same Hollywood residence he shared with Murphy, and in which Murphy died on Dec. 20. In yet another tragic coincidence, both were found by Murphy's mother, Sharon, who also lived with the couple.
Monjack and Murphy were buried next to each other at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Winter told E! News that his office will conduct one more test on Monjack at the request of his family, but did not disclose any details what that might be.
The official autopsy report won't be made available for another two weeks.
In response to today's news, Sharon Murphy said that she was relieved that "the media speculation can stop" regarding what killed her son-in-law.
"As I was sure of, just like my daughter Brittany there was no kind of drug overdose," she said in a statement released by publicist Roger Neal.
"I am calling on the media to stop the reckless innuendos, that my daughter and son-in-law misused any kind of prescription medications. Thank you to the thousands of people who have sent letters and emails letting me know I am in their thoughts and prayers. I am getting stronger every day." (eonline.com)