Do young stars and rockers really die of “natural causes”? The case of Brittany Murphy and James Owen Sullivan
Headlines of the month:
“Brittany Murphy Likely Died From Natural Causes.” So said the PopEater headline reporting LA County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter’s take on the 32-year-old’s untimely death from cardiac arrest. However, Murphy, whose claim to fame began with 1995’s “Clueless” and continued in films including “Girl, Interrupted,” reportedly suffered from diabetes and used a lot of cocaine over the years, which can cause sudden death. Her husband, Simon Monjack, 39, reportedly disrupted the set of “Shrinking Charlotte” by showing up inebriated. In a case of possible co-addict enabling, Murphy reportedly shelled out a lot of money over civil judgments against Monjack. Likely death from complications of diabetes and, despite having diabetes, psychotropic drug use should never be referred to as “natural,” especially from the coroner’s office. (Another headline read, “Brittany Murphy’s death stuns industry.” Why would the death of a suspected addict ever stun anyone?)
And a runner-up for headline of the month: “James Owen Sullivan, [heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold’s drummer], appeared to have died of natural causes,” according to Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo. Sullivan was 28. Yeah, Lt. Domingo, right. (The band won the Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2006.)