Aug. 5, 1962 - Marilyn Monroe, a troubled beauty who failed to find happiness as Hollywood’s brightest star, was found dead early today in her Brentwood, Los Angeles home of an apparent overdose of sleeping pills. The 36-year-old actress was nude, lying face down on her bed, and clutching a telephone receiver in her hand when her psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, broke into her room at 3:30 a.m. Beside the bed was an empty bottle that had contained 50 Nembutal capsules. The prescription was issued only three days ago, and the capsules were to be taken in doses of one a night. Fourteen other bottles of medicines and tablets were on the nightstand. After an autopsy at the County Morgue, Los Angeles coroner Dr. Theodore J. Curphey reported that Miss Monroe’s “was not a natural death.” He added that a toxicological study, to be completed within 48 hours, should yield more detailed information. He refused, until then, to list the death as a suicide, nor is it being listed as such by the Los Angeles police at this time. Miss Monroe left no note. Dr. Robert Litman, a psychiatrist serving on a special “suicide team” that will investigate Miss Monroe’s last days to determine if she took her own life, said notes are left by less than 40% of those who take their own lives. Miss Monroe’s body was discovered after her housekeeper and companion, Mrs. Eunice Murray, awoke about 3 a.m. and saw a light still burning in the actress’s room. Mrs. Murray found the bedroom door locked. She was unable to arouse Miss Monroe by shouts and rapping on the door, and immediately telephoned Dr. Greenson.
