Uncertainty and some famous deaths
The lives of many famous individuals come under tremendous scrutiny and it should come as no surprise that their deaths do too.
Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), a globally famous actress from California was found dead at home on 5 August 1962. Her officially recorded cause of death was ‘acute barbiturate posioning’, which was perhaps controversially stated to be the result of an accidental overdose. There has been much subsequent speculation about her death, particularly as to whether it might have been suicide, and there are also a number of conspiracy theories that it might have been the result of homicide.
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) was the lead singer of US band Nirvana. He was found dead at home on 8 April 1994. There was a suicide note next to his body. Autopsy revealed significant levels of diamorphine (‘heroin’) in his body, together with a fatal gunshot wound to his head. Despite numberous conspiracy theories about his dead, there has never been any real evidence to suggest it was anything other than suicide.
Michael Hutchence (1960-1997) was a lead singer of Australian rock band INXS. He was found dead in a room of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sydney on 22 November 1997. His death was attributed to suicide by hanging. However, many individuals (inclusing girlfriend Paula Yates and member of his family) questioned this, noting that he was naked when found and that there was no suicide note, postulating instead that he died as a result of autoerotic asphyxia.
Paula Yates (1959-2000), Welsh television presenter, girlfriend of Michael Hutchence, was found dead at her home in London. Death was attributed to an overdose of diamorphone (‘heroin’), which the coroner judged to be an accident, rather than suicide.
