Murphy died of Pneumonia, drugs
LOS ANGELES - Brittany Murphy, the star of "Clueless" and "8 Mile," died from pneumonia, with prescription drugs and anemia also playing a role, a coroner's official said Thursday.
The Dec. 20 death of the actress was accidental and likely could have been prevented if Murphy had seen a doctor sooner, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said.
He noted, however, that she did have an appointment scheduled with a physician a few days after she died.
Winter declined to specify what types of drugs were involved in her death and said further details would be released in several weeks when the report was completed.
He also said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
Winter said Murphy's community-acquired pneumonia was serious and proved lethal when combined with the medications and iron deficiency anemia.
Murphy died at age 32 after collapsing in her Hollywood Hills home. Her mother and husband have said the actress didn't abuse prescription medications or have an eating disorder.
Attempts to reach them for further comment were not immediately successful.
Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon Murphy, told investigators the actress had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before she died.
Monjack told The Associated Press last month that his wife did take several prescriptions, including an anti-seizure drug, but did not abuse the medications.
He said she had been taking over-the-counter Robitussin for her recent sickness.
Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner in New York City, said the quantities and type of drugs Murphy was taking were key to understanding how she died.
"One doesn't die of pneumonia, usually, that quickly," Baden said.
He said the use of some prescription medications can lead to pneumonia.
"It sounds more like it's a drug-related than a natural pulmonary pneumonia," said Baden, who did not work on the Murphy case but has served as an expert witness in numerous high-profile deaths.
Johnson's death
diabetes related
LOS ANGELES - Socialite Casey Johnson died of a complication of diabetes, the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday.
Johnson, 30, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson health care products fortune, died of diabetic ketoacidosis, the coroner said in a brief statement. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition caused by lack of insulin and sky-high blood sugar.
An autopsy was conducted Jan. 5, a day after Johnson's body was found at her home. The coroner's office said it would not be able to discuss specifics until the autopsy report and toxicology results become available within two weeks.
Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner in New York City, said Johnson probably slipped into a diabetic coma, but people can usually be resuscitated from that in the first 24 hours.
"If you have somebody with diabetes, there should be somebody checking up on that person," said Baden, who has been an expert witness in cases involving the late comedian John Belushi and former pro football star O.J. Simpson.
A message left for a family spokesman was not immediately returned.
Johnson, the daughter of New York Jets owner Robert "Woody" Johnson, lived a party life. In December, she announced her engagement to bisexual reality TV star Tila Tequila.
Her body was flown east for a private funeral.
- The Associated Press
Johnson had been an insulin-dependent diabetic since childhood. A memorial fund in her name was set up with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Her father is chairman of that organization and co-author of the book "Managing Your Child's Diabetes."
Casey Johnson lived in a quiet neighborhood behind big wooden gates marked "Grumblenot," but she often partied with high school friend and fellow heiress Paris Hilton.
Johnson was charged in December with burglary and receiving stolen property for allegedly taking $22,000 in clothing, jewelry and other items from a friend's home. She pleaded not guilty and faced a February hearing.
She is survived by her parents, two younger sisters, and an adopted child she named Ava-Monroe, after her idol, Marilyn Monroe.