Autopsyfiles.org - Death Certificates

Meitner, Lise: (November 7, 1878 - October 27, 1968) Lise Meitner was an Austrian-Swedish physicist who worked on radioactivity and nuclear physics and best known for her work with scientists, Otto Hahn and Otto Robert Frisch, as they discovered nuclear fission of uranium when it absorbed an extra neutron. Meitner went on to publish her findings in 1939. On October 27, 1968, Meitner passed away in here sleep. Here death certificate lists the cause of her death as coronary insufficiency, heart failure, and repeated coronary thrombosis.
Mercury, Freddie: (September 5, 1946 - November 24, 1991) Freddie Mercury was a talented British singer and songwriter who was the lead vocalist for the rock band, Queen. As a songwriter, Mercury composed some outstanding hit songs including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "We Are the Champions". On November 23, 1991, Mercury released a statement saying that he was tested as HIV positive and had AIDS and stated that he quite this quiet to date to protect the privacy of those around him. The next day, Freddie Mercury died as a result of "bronchopneumonia as a complication to AIDS."
Monroe, Marilyn: (June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962) Marilyn Monroe was a talented American actress who became a sex symbol of the big screen. She starred in hit movies such as Bus Stop, getting a Golden Globe nomination; and winning a Golden Globe Award for Some Like It Hot. Marilyn was married to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio before divorcing him. After her death, Joe had a half-a-dozen red roses delivered to her grave three times a week for 20 years. On August 5, 1962, Marilyn was found early in the morning dead in her bed. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson called 911 to report Monroe was found dead at her home. Her toxicology report stated that eight milligram per cent of Chloral hydrate and 4.5 milligram percent of Nembutal were found in her system. Dr. Thomas Noguchi of the Los Angeles County Coroners office recorded cause of death as "acute barbiturate poisoning," resulting from a "probable suicide." There are several conspiracy theories that Marilyn's death was the result of the mafia or CIA; or it was rumored that she had affairs with John and Robert Kennedy. It was supposedly reported that last person who talked to Marilyn was the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
Morrison, Jim: (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971) Jim Morrison was the lead singer for the rock group, The Doors. Morrison is ranked as one of the Rolling Stone's magazine "100 Greatest Singers of All Time." The Doors achieved national recognition after signing with Elektra Records in 1967. The single "Light My Fire" eventually reached number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. Morrison was together with his long-time companion, Pam Courson at the time of his death. On July 3, 1971, Courson found Morrison dead in the bathtub of their apartment located at 17 rue Beautreillis in Paris, France. At the time of his death, there was no official autopsy performed. The translation of the official French death certificate states that his death was due to "heart problems were aggravated by the abuse of alcohol, followed by an abrupt change of temperature caused cardiac arrest." There was some controversy surrounding Morrison's death in which there have been several theories how Morrison died. When interviewed by police, Pamela Courson stated that she and Jim they went to a late-night showing at the cinema of the Robert Mitchum movie Pursued, later returning to their the apartment. After watching some of Morrison's home movies, they drifted off to sleep. An hour later Courson awoke to Morrison choking and gurgling. Courson slapped Morrison awake, after which he promptly vomited blood in the bathroom. Worried, she offered to call a doctor, but Morrison declined, saying he was feeling better and wanted to take a bath. Courson went back to sleep and Morrison finished his bath. She woke the next morning at approximately 8:00 a.m. to discover Morrison unconscious in the bathtub. A small amount of blood trickled from his nose as Courson tried to wake him. She called her friend at 8:30, and later the fire department. As the firemen pulled Morrison from the bath and laid him in the bedroom they treated unsuccessfully to revive him using CPR. Jim Morrison died at the age of 27. He is one of the great musicians included in the Forever 27 Club, which is the name for a group of influential rock and blues musicians who all died at the age of 27. Morrison is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Also included in this file is the English version of the death certificate, the American Embassy Statement of Death of an American Citizen, and the official police report associated with the interview of Pam Courson. On April 25, 1974, Courson died of a heroin overdose.
Murphy-Monjack, Brittany: (November 10, 1977 - December 20, 2009) Brittany Murphy was a famed actress who starred in movies such as Clueless; Just Married; Girl, Interrupted; Spun; 8 Mile; Uptown Girls; Sin City; Happy Feet; and Riding in Cars with Boys. Brittany Murphy and her husband Simon Monjack died 5 months apart of community-acquired pneumonia. You may also review the autopsy, police, and toxicology report here. Autopsy Report File Size is (13.86 MB)
O'Rourke, Heather: (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) Heather O'Rourke was a talented, young actress who starred in the thriller movie series, Poltergeist. Heather had become ill in early 1987 and was misdiagnosed with Crohn's Disease. On January 31, 1988, O'Rourke suddenly became ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything down. The next morning she collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while en route to the hospital. After resuscitation, Heather was airlifted by helicopter to Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego. She died during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction that was caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine. Her cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest caused by septic shock brought on by the intestinal stenosis.
Oswald, Lee Harvey: (October 18, 1939 - November 24, 1963) Lee Harvey Oswald was a young gentleman who, on November 22, 1963, assassinated John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America in Dallas, Texas as the president rode in his motorcade. Ironically, on November 24, 1963, Oswald, was shot in the abdomen by Jack Ruby as he was being escorted out of Dallas Police Headquarters. Oswald was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital were he died at 1:07PM local time.
Phoenix, River: (August 30, 1970 - October 31, 1993) River Phoenix was an outstanding actor who starred in movies such as Stand By Me, Sneakers, My Own Private Idaho, as well as in Running on Empty, for which his performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. On October 31, 1993, Phoenix had collapsed outside of the Hollywood nightclub, the Viper Room, where he was to perform. He subsequently went into convulsions, and then cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where further attempts to resuscitate Phoenix were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 1:51 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. The official cause of death is "acute multiple drug intoxication" resulting from cocaine and heroin ingestion. His toxicology report also states he had diazepam, ephedrine and marijuana in his blood.