Los Angeles authorities rule Monroe’s 1962 death a probable suicide by barbiturate overdose
On 5 August 1962 Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood house; the Los Angeles County coroner classified the death as probable suicide from acute barbiturate poisoning. In the causal graph this event weakens Health-System Capacity, a driver that strengthens Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) — a worsening welfare path.
Read the full account
On 5 August 1962 Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood house; the Los Angeles County coroner classified the death as probable suicide from acute barbiturate poisoning. This Fact stores that official medical-legal instrument. It does not store a murder plot, a presidential order, or a later podcast as an additional act.
Context
Evidentiary language is mandatory: probable suicide per authorities.
Marilyn Monroe’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.
Chief medical examiner Theodore Curphey’s office issued a probable-suicide finding after the 5 August 1962 discovery in Brentwood. She did not author a later inquest website.
Why it matters
A public probable-suicide ruling is a health-capacity caution. Confidence high on the official classification, low on later alternative manners of death.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Marilyn Monroe
PersonDirect responsibility
responsibility level 0.25 · verified
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactLos Angeles authorities rule Monroe’s 1962 death a probable suicide by barbiturate overdose
- weakensDriverHealth-System Capacity
- strengthensIndicators (2)Hospital beds (per 1,000 people)
impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 5 August 1962 · verified
A public probable-suicide ruling is a health-capacity caution. Confidence high on the official classification, low on later alternative manners of death.
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.3 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.6)
Observed
3.08 Per 1000 people · 1.24 below the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal6 readings, 2018–2023: rose from 3.07 Per 1000 people to 3.08 Per 1000 people.
Above normal = better
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.25 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.5)
Observed
37.4 deaths per 1,000 live births · 12.4 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal7 readings, 2018–2024: fell from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births to 37.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Above normal = worse
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.History.com — Marilyn Monroe is found dead, 5 August 1962History Channel / A&E Television Networks · High credibility · verified
- 2.Britannica — Marilyn MonroeEncyclopaedia Britannica · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish
History.com’s dated public file of the finding and Britannica independently report the coroner’s probable-suicide ruling.
Established: 1962 death and probable-suicide ruling as issued. Not established: homicide, accident as a substituted official finding, or any named second gunman.
Marilyn Monroe did not file a later UNESCO form, a later Loeb colophon, or a later museum label as a personal act. Keep the coroner’s word ‘probable’ visible.
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorMarilyn Monroe
- contributed toFactLos Angeles authorities rule Monroe’s 1962 death a probable suicide by barbiturate overdose
- weakensDriverHealth-System Capacity
- strengthensIndicatorHospital beds (per 1,000 people)
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Los Angeles authorities rule Monroe’s 1962 death a probable suicide by barbiturate overdose. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/mm-death-probable-suicide-1962
https://factrail.ai/facts/mm-death-probable-suicide-1962
Accessed 16 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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