The Marilyn Monroe Autopsy Mystery: A Decade-Long Secret Finally Revealed
THE MYSTERY OF MARILYN MONROE'S DEATH: A TRUTH REVEALED BY THE MAN WHO TOOK ON THE CASE
It's been 64 years since Marilyn Monroe's untimely death, but the truth behind her passing remains shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories. Now, a new book by Anne Soon Choi, "L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood," finally sheds light on what really happened to the legendary beauty. And at the center of it all is Thomas Noguchi, the young coroner who was tasked with uncovering the truth.
Noguchi's story begins on a fateful Sunday morning in 1962 when he arrived at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office to perform an autopsy on a woman who had died just hours earlier. As he read through the investigator's report, his eyes widened in shock - the woman was none other than Marilyn Monroe, the iconic actress and singer who had just turned 36.
"I couldn't believe it," Noguchi told Choi. "I mean, I knew she was famous, but I didn't realize she was that famous." The sense of urgency was palpable, with several bodies waiting in line for autopsies, but Monroe's case took priority.
As Noguchi began the autopsy, he felt a strange connection to the woman on the table. "I was only 36 at the time," he explained. "It was like she was my peer." He pulled back the sheet and examined every inch of her body with a magnifying glass, searching for any signs of foul play.
The initial findings seemed straightforward - Monroe had taken an overdose of sleeping pills, including Nembutal and chloral hydrate, which were found scattered on her bedside table. But when the toxicology results arrived, "alarm bells went off in his head," Choi writes. The levels of pentobarbital and chloral hydrate in Monroe's system were fatal, but it was unclear whether she had ingested them or if they were administered through an injection.
This bombshell revelation left Noguchi reeling. He knew that not running additional tests on the stomach and other organs would raise questions about his handling of the case. But, as a junior member of the team, he felt powerless to challenge the head toxicologist, Raymond Abernathy.
Theories began to swirl - was Monroe murdered by the CIA? Were the Kennedys involved? Had she been poisoned by the mafia? The Chief Coroner, Theodore Curphey, called a press conference to try and quell the speculation, announcing that Monroe had died by her own hand. But Noguchi couldn't shake off his doubts.
"I wanted to rectify the situation," he told Choi. "I wanted to have the stomach's contents and organs tested." But Abernathy disposed of the evidence once the coroner's report was issued. Without a complete analysis, it was impossible to rule out that Monroe had died by injection rather than swallowing pills.
Noguchi's actions were scrutinized in the years that followed. He lost his job twice - first in 1969 amid accusations of mismanagement, and again in 1982 after his outspoken handling of celebrity deaths. But he continued to work as a forensic expert, publishing research and books on the subject.
Today, Noguchi is 98 and still engaged in research. In "L.A. Coroner," Choi offers a candid look at his life and career, including his struggles with ego and self-aggrandizement. "Ultimately, his insatiable yearning to belong, to be seen and valued for his expertise... was his downfall," she writes.
The book also raises questions about Noguchi's role in the autopsy, and why he was tasked with such a high-profile case. Was it an intentional decision to have him lead the investigation? And did Noguchi's doubts about Monroe's death reflect something more sinister?
"L.A. Coroner" is a gripping read that delves into the world of forensic science and celebrity culture. It's a story about truth, power, and the human psyche - and it will keep you guessing until the very end.
Sources:
- "L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood" by Anne Soon Choi (Third State Books)
- The scholarlynote.com
