Brittany Murphy Death Certificate Reveals Oddities

The death certificate for Brittany Murphy was filed Tuesday and TMZ was quick to post its contents. With the Brittany Murphy case reading more and more like a soap opera, suspense has been building since the 32-year-old star's death on December 20. The death certificate only reiterated what the preliminary autopsy report revealed: manner of death "pending investigation" and cause of death "deferred." However, there were a few interesting portions of the death certificate that will no doubt generate continued speculation about the circumstances surrounding Brittany Murphy's all too untimely death until said final autopsy report is released...

The line listing Brittany Murphy's father's name reads "UNKNOWN." It is known that Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, was estranged from his daughter and had not seen her since 2006, but was the listing an oversight or an intended shot at Bertolotti? Either way, according to Perez Hilton, Bertolotti refused to attend Murphy's funeral, which was held at Forest Lawn on Christmas Eve.

Another interesting piece of information appeared in the line for "INFORMANT," which is anyone that provides vital information to the mortuary. TMZ reported that the name listed was "Tayebe Pajooh, cousin," who resides in North Carolina (Brittany Murphy is originally from Atlanta).

Why is a cousin in North Carolina providing the mortuary vital information when Brittany Murphy's mother, Sharon, was there at the house when the 911 call went through? Presumably, she has been in Los Angeles the entire time. She attended the aforementioned funeral. Was she unreachable? Could she not be reached to supply information such as "Father" (and would certainly explain the "UNKNOWN" in that slot) and Social Security number?

And what about Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's husband? Why couldn't he provide the information? Why go to someone in North Carolina for information that should have been proffered by someone with Brittany Murphy when she died.

Of course, much of the seeming inconsistencies or strangenesses associated with Brittany Murphy's death certificate might be attributable to the shock and chaos that comes to families at times of death. And given Murphy's relatively young age and the suddenness of death, the shock may have become magnified. And then there is the added stress of having to deal with a tabloid media looking for a story, perhaps driving some members of the family to avoid dealing with the outside world and even the tiniest of details, such as providing information for the star's death certificate.

Brittany Murphy was found unconscious in the shower at about 8:00 a.m. Sunday, December 20, by her mother. Attempts to revive her failed and paramedics were called. Finding her unresponsive, the paramedics attempted to revive her as they transported the actress to Cedar-Sinai Medical Center. It was reported that three more attempts were made to revive Murphy before she was pronounced dead.

As noted, her final autopsy report awaits toxicology and tissue tests ("deferred" cause of death), which are expected to be concluded by February.

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Sources:

TMZ.com
PerezHilton.com